Presented 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


■% 


by  cJcA^^rTvin  c)oc\e-V^ 


Divisiott 


Sectio7t 


.6.J3CZ 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/imperialjapaneseOOcarn 


Gold  Medal  Presented  by  the  City  of  Boston 
TO  Viscount  Ishii 


Carnegie  Endowment  for  International  Peace 

DIVISION  OF  INTERCOURSE  AND  EDUCATION 

« 

Publication  No.  15 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 

1917 


A Record  of  the  Reception  Throughout  the  United  States 
of  the  Special  Mission  Headed  by  Viscount  Ishii 


TOGETHER  WITH  THE  EXCHANGE  OF  NOTES  EMBODYING 

The  Root-Takahira  Understanding  of  1908 

AND 

The  Lansing-Ishii  Agreement  of  1917 
Foreword  by  Elihu  Root 


WASHINGTON,  D,  C. 


COPYRIGHT  1918 

BY  THE 

CARNEGIE  ENDOWMENT  FOR  INTERNATIONAL  PEACE 
2 Jackson  Place 
Washington,  D.  C. 


Press  of  Byron  S.  Adams 
Washington,  D.  C. 


FOREWORD 


Both  Japan  and  America  owe  a real  debt  to  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  associates 
for  the  way  in  which  they  discharged  the  duty  of  their  recent  Mission  to 
America.  Only  a full  and  just  comprehension  of  American  character  and  points 
of  view  enabled  this  distinguished  Japanese  statesman  to  deliver  his  message  of 
friendship  acceptably  to  varied  audiences  in  many  cities,  and,  passing  beyond  the 
formal  expressions  of  international  courtesy,  to  say  many  serious  things  of  sub- 
stance and  moment  regarding  the  delicate  and  sometimes  difficult  relations  be- 
tween the  two  countries  without  sounding  a false  note  or  ever  jarring  the  sensi- 
bilities of  his  hearers.  After  this  no  one  can  maintain  that  the  differences  be- 
tween the  East  and  the  West  in  character  and  in  ways  of  thinking  and  feeling 
need  prevent  an  Eastern  and  a Western  nation  from  understanding  each  other  well 
enough  to  establish  a sincere  and  helpful  friendship  upon  the  basis  of  mutual 
appreciation  and  confidence.  There  have  been  misunderstandings  between  the 
people  of  Japan  and  the  people  of  the  United  States.  The  people  of  each  country 
have  had  vague  and  mistaken  impressions  about  the  purposes  and  motives  of  the 
other  country.  Many  things  have  been  said  and  printed,  and  some  things  have 
been  done  under  the  influence  of  these  misunderstandings  and  tending  to  increase 
them.  This  does  not  apply  to  the  two  governments.  Nothing  could  be  more 
frank  and  considerate  and  friendly  than  the  relations  between  them.  They  have 
not  misunderstood  each  other  because  they  have  had  the  means  and  the  wish  to 
inform  themselves,  and  they  have  understood  and  trusted  each  other. 

But  in  these  times  peoples  and  not  governments  determine  what  interna- 
tional relations  shall  be,  and  among  the  effects  of  the  Great  War  already  mani- 
fest is  a continually  strengthening  tendency  towards  the  increase  of  this  popular 
control  of  international  affairs.  The  world  will  be  vastly  the  gainer  by  the 
change  from  the  old  methods  of  diplomacy,  but  the  change  brings  its  own  dangers. 
The  central  vice  of  the  old  system  of  diplomacy  in  camera  has  been  the  control 
of  secret  selfish  policies  of  aggrandizement  in  which  the  interests  of  the  popular 
mass  play  little  or  no  part.  The  danger  of  popular  diplomacy  rests  in  popular 
misunderstanding  of  national  rights  and  duties,  and  the  suspicions  and  resent- 
ment and  violent  impvtlses  resulting  from  popular  misunderstanding.  Trained 
diplomats  usually  understand  the  merits  of  the  controversies  in  which  they  are 
involved,  because  it  is  their  business  to  inform  themselves ; but  there  are  serious 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  such  an  understanding  by  the  whole  people  of  any 
country.  The  great  body  of  the  people  seldom  take  an  interest  in  any  foreign 
question  until  there  is  some  excitement  about  it.  Before  the  excitement  it  is 
hard  for  those  who  know  the  facts  and  the  law  to  get  a hearing,  and  after  the 


IV 


FOREWORD 


excitement  has  come  it  is  apt  to  be  too  late.  It  is  very  difficult  for  the  public 
to  test  the  correctness  of  statements  about  the  facts  and  the  legal  rights  on  which 
international  controversies  depend,  and  they  are  accordingly  liable  to  be  misled  by 
misrepresentation,  sometimes  by  mistaken  ignorance  and  sometimes  with  a ma- 
licious purpose.  Such  a purpose  acquiring  control  of  a few  newspapers  may  do 
infinite  harm  in  the  relations  between  two  countries  which  have  no  real  reason 
whatever  for  any  feeling  towards  each  other  but  confidence  and  friendship. 
Sometimes  the  misleading  motive  is  in  a demagogue  who  seeks  office  or  fortune 
through  public  assaults  upon  foreigners,  and  sometimes  it  is  in  the  policy  of 
nations  who  wish  to  enhance  their  own  power  by  promoting  discord  among 
others. 

Among  the  maxims  which  Frederick  the  Great  left  for  the  guidance  of  his 
successors  are  these: 

If  possible,  the  powers  of  Europe  should  be  made  envious  against  one 
another,  in  order  to  give  occasion  for  a coup  when  the  opportunity  arises. 

I understand  by  the  word  Policy  that  one  must  make  it  his  study  to 
deceive  others.  That  is  the  way  to  get  the  better  of  them. 

Form  alliances  only  in  order  to  sow  animosity. 

It  is  apparent  that  the  policy  thus  expressed  and  always  followed  by  the 
reigning  house  of  Prussia  has  been  applied  to  mislead  the  peoples  of  Japan  and 
the  United  States  and  to  make  trouble  between  the  two  countries. 

In  a situation  which  involved  such  elements  of  difficulty  Viscount  Ishii  has 
applied  the  force  of  high  intelligence  at  precisely  the  right  point.  The  novelty 
of  his  undertaking  attracted  popular  attention.  The  frankness  and  charm  of  his 
expression  awakened  kindly  interest,  and  the  authentic  character  of  his  statements 
carried  conviction.  The  speeches  he  made  and  the  responses  they  elicited  have 
been  of  the  highest  value  to  both  countries.  Taken  as  a whole,  they  constitute  a 
great  event  in  international  history,  and  their  influence  will  be  long  continued. 
To  contribute  towards  that  end  by  preserving  the  speeches  and  responses  in  per- 
manent and  accessible  form  this  volume  is  printed. 

Elihu  Root. 


February  8,  ipi8. 


For  the  collection  of  material  and  for  the  editing  of  the  present  volume  the  Division 
of  Intercourse  and  Education  is  under  heavy  obligation  to  Mr.  T.  lyenaga,  Director  of  the 
East  and  West  News  Bureau,  and  Mr.  Joseph  I.  C.  Clarke  of  New  York,  which  obligation 
is  gratefully  acknowledged. 


CONTENTS 


Foreword  by  Elihu  Root  page 

I.  The  Imperial  Japanese  Mission 1 

Formation  and  Personnel 1 

II.  A Halt  at  Honolulu 3 

Welcome  by  Governor  Pinkham 3 

Viscount  Ishii’s  Reply 4 

III.  On  the  Pacific  Coa.st 6 

At  the  City  Hall 6 

Secretary  Lansing’s  Telegram 7 

Citizens’  Committee  Luncheon 7 

Municipal  Banquet  8 

Viscount  Ishii’s  Dinner 11 

IV.  At  the  National  Capital 14 

Welcome  to  Washington  by  Secretary  Lansing 14 

Viscount  Ishii  to  the  Press 15 

At  the  White  House 15 

A Visit  to  Annapolis 18 

At  Washington’s  Tomb 19 

Viscount  Ishii  on  his  Mission 21 

Reception  by  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Mrs.  Lansing 21 

At  the  Navy  Yard 22 

Before  the  United  States  Senate 22 

Before  the  House  of  Representatives 26 

Dinner  at  Graystone 30 

V.  Philadelphia’s  Welcome  31 

Ambassador  Morris’s  Welcome .> 31 

Chamber  of  Commerce  Luncheon 33 

Symposium  of  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science 37 

VI.  At  Commodore  Perry’s  Grave,  Newport,  R.  1 42 

Tribute  to  the  American  who  Opened  Japan  64  Years  ago 42 

Reception  and  Address  at  the  Casino 43 

VII.  Honored  Guests  of  Boston 46 

At  the  State  House 46 

Municipal  Dinner  48 

Harvard  University  52 

Boston  City  Club  Luncheon 52 

Motor  Trip  over  Historic  Ground 53 

VIII.  German  Propaganda  in  the  United  States  and  Japan 55 

Viscount  Ishii’s  Address  to  the  National  Press  Club 55 

Progress  of  the  Diplomatic  Conversations 58 


PAGE 

IX.  New  York— I 59 

Mayor  Mitchd’s  Proclamation 59 

Parade  and  Reception  at  the  City  Hall 60 

Up  Fifth  Avenue — The  69th  Regiment 68 

Sightseeing  69 

Chamber  of  Commerce  Reception  and  Luncheon 69 

At  the  Tomb  of  General  Grant 75 

Dinner  Given  by  Mayor  Mitchel  and  Executive  Committee 75 

Japan  Society’s  Reception 78 

A Trip  to  West  Point 81 

X.  New  York — II  83 

Municipal  Banquet  83 

Address  of  Former  President  Taft 87 

The  Open  Door 90 

A Day  with  Japanese  Compatriots 92 

Dinner  Given  by  Japanese 93 

Luncheon  at  the  Bankers’  Club 94 

Oswald  Garrison  Villard’s  Dinner 99 

A Visit  to  Theodore  Roosevelt Ill 

XL  Homeward  Bound  112 

A Message  of  Gratitude  from  the  Coast 112 

A Word  of  Reassurance  from  Hawaii 112 

XII.  Viscount  Ishii’s  Tribute  to  America 113 

The  Emperor’s  Message  of  Thanks  to  President  Wilson 115 

Appendix  A.  The  Root-Takahira  Exchange  of  Notes,  1908 119 

Appendix  B.  The  Lansing-Ishii  Exchange  of  Notes,  1917 121 

Index  to  Speakers 127 


I 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Formation  and  Personnel 

Upon  the  declaration  by  the  United  States  that  a state  of  war  existed 
between  the  Emperor  of  Germany  and  his  government  on  one  side  and  the 
United  States'  on  the  other,  the  various  governments  of  the  Allied  Powers  also 
at  war  with  Germany,  hailing  the  potency  of  the  new  entrant,  a!t  once  took 
measures  to  draw  as  tightly  as  possible  the  common  bond  against  the  common 
enemy.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  methods  of  official  communication  through 
the  chancelleries,  the  gravity  of  the  great  interests  involved  seemed  to  call  for 
something  more  direct,  more  personal,  and  led  to  the  appointment  of  govern- 
mental missions  composed  of  the  highest  types  of  officials  charged  with  extend- 
ing the  warm  hand  of  friendship  to  America.  At  the  same  time  these  missions 
were  advised  to  confer  in  the  fullest  intimacy  upon  all  the  problems  of  the 
war,  whether  purely  military,  economic,  or  financial,  to  the  best  results  for  the 
Allied  cause.  The  Mission  from  France,  which  included  Marshal  Joffre  and 
Premier  Viviani,  and  the  British  Mission,  headed  by  Arthur  James  Balfour,  were 
followed  by  missions  from  Italy  and  Russia,  and  it  was  quite  in  the  regular 
order  that  the  Emperor  of  Japan  should  commend  a similar  course  to  Premier 
Marshal  Count  Terauchi,  leading  to  the  appointment  of  an  Imperial  Japanese 
Mission  to  the  United  States  with  Viscount  Kikujiro  Ishii  at  its  head.  This 
appointment  of  a skilled  and  highly  trained  diplomat  of  winning  personality  as 
ambassador  extraordinary  and  plenipotentiary  was  warmly  applauded  in  Japan. 

In  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age,  the  Viscount  had  been  in  the  public  service 
almost  since  his  graduation  in  1890  from  the  Law  School  of  the  Imperial 
University  of  Tokio.  His  first  diplomatic  post  was  with  the  Japanese  Legation 
at  Paris  in  1891,  becoming  third  secretary  in  1893.  In  1896  he  was  consul  at 
Ninsen  and  second  secretary  of  the  Japanese  Legation  at  Peking  in  1897,  to  be 
promoted  to  first  secretary  in  the  following  year.  It  was  in  this  position  that 
he  sustained  the  memorable  siege  of  the  legations  in  Peking  during  the  Boxer 
uprising.  Recalled  to  Tokio,  he  was  made  secretary  at  the  Foreign  Office  and 
chief  of  the  Telegraph  Section.  Promoted  in  1904  to  the  directorship  of  the 
Commerce  Bureau,  he  was  dispatched  to  San  Francisco  and  Vancouver  in  1907' 
in  connection  with  the  anti-Japanese  trouble  there.  Vice  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs  in  1908,  he  was  in  a short  time  made  Ambassador  to  Paris,  whence  he 


2 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


was  recalled  to  take  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  in  1915-1916.  Here  were 
indications  of  a many  sided  diplomat  that  personal  contact  always  bore  out 
with  something  invariably  added  to  the  account  to  be  credited  to  personal  charm 
and  high  character.  He  was  named  Baron  in  1912,  created  Viscount  in  1916, 
being  at  the  same  time  nominated  by  the  Emperor  to  membership  in  the  House 
of  Peers. 

The  standing  of  his  associates  was  also  notable.  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita 
had  been  with  the  Japanese  Legation  at  Washington  as  an  attache;  Major  Gen- 
eral Sugano  was  distinguished  in  the  modern  Japanese  army;  Masanao  Hani- 
hara.  Consul  General  at  San  Francisco,  was  a trusted  and  experienced  officer; 
Matsuzo  Nagai.  Secretary  of  the  Foreign  Office,  had  served  at  New  York, 
Washington  and  San  Francisco;  Commander  Ando  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Tanikawa  were  brilliant  men  in  their  classes. 

At  a meeting  and  banquet  of  the  America-Japan  Society  held  in  Tokio  on 
July  6,  attended  by  Premier  Terauchi  and  the  members  of  his  cabinet,  some- 
thing of  a formal  good-by  and  Godspeed  was  given  to  the  Mission  amid  cheers 
and  cries  of  “Banzai!” 


II 


A HALT  AT  HONOLULU 


Welcome  by  Governor  Pinkham 

Freighted  with  the  warm  good  will  of  the  rulers  and  people  of  Japan,  \ is- 
count  Ishii  and  his  companions  of  the  Imperial  Mission  took  ship  at  Yokohama 
for  San  Francisco,  dropping  anchor  on  the  way  in  the  harbor  of  Honolulu  on 
August  6,  where  the  first  of  a long  series  of  ovations  awaited  them.  The  large 
Japanese  population  joined  joyously  in  the  welcome  to  the  Imperial  Mission 
tendered  by  the  United  States  authorities,  headed  by  Governor  Lucius  Eugene 
Pinkham.  In  the  afternoon  Viscount  Ishii  and  the  other  gentlemen  of  the 
Mission  were  taken  in  motor  cars  to  many  points  of  interest,  the  Pali,  the  sugar 
lands  of  the  interior,  the  coast  lines  and  many  scenic  beauties  of  the  island. 
In  the  evening  a dinner  was  given  to  the  Mission  at  the  Alexander  Young 
Hotel.  Some  eighty  guests  f>articipated.  The  greatest  good  feeling  prevailed. 
Governor  Pinkham  said  by  way  of  welcome: 

Your  Excellency,  Viscount  Ishii,  Consul  General  Moroi,  members  of  the 
Mission,  and  gentlemen : 

It  has  been  my  privilege  to  note  some  of  the  expressions  made  by  Your 
Excellency  in  your  address  before  the  America-Japan  Society  exactly  one 
month  ago  tonight.  I have  noted  the  sentiments  expressed  on  that  occasion 
by  your  most  distinguished  statesmen  and  diplomats,  the  Honorable  Count 
Terauchi,  Premier  of  Japan,  V^iscount  Ichiro  Motono,  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  \dscount  Kentaro  Kaneko,  Privy  Councilor,  and  Eki  Hioki,  Diplo- 
mat. The  sentiments  were  all  friendly  and  cordial  to  the  United  States  of 
America  and  urgent  for  a peace  consistent  with  the  highest  ideals,  to  be 
maintained  in  perpetuity.  A mission  filled  with  the  spirit  of  your  Mission, 
sustained  by  your  statesmen  at  home  and  abroad,  can  not  fail  to  make  the 
profoundest  impression  on  the  American  people  and  the  whole  world,  now 
so  intricately  involved  in  every  phase  of  human  and  national  existence. 

It  is  for  you  who  know  the  innermost  springs  of  purpose  and  action  to 
predict  the  outcome  of  your  magnificent  report,  and  not  for  me,  so  far  from 
the  center  of  American  statesmanship  and  diplomacy  and  unauthorized  to 
speak. 

It  is  for  us  in  this  isolated  archipelago  to  hope  for  what  is  best  for  our 
country.  These  islands  have  had  much  to  do  with  modern  Japan,  and 
Japan  has  had  much  to  do  with  modern  Hawaii,  and  will  have  much  more 
to  do  with  modern  Hawaii,  for  the  potentialities  of  the  predominance  of 
the  Japanese  race  in  the  territory  of  Hawaii  are  obvious. 


4 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Our  relations  have  been  ethical,  educational  and  commercial,  and  the 
happy  results  have  been  this  day  under  your  observation. 

The  world  in  these  latter  days  learns  much  from  Japan,  Her  action 
in  now  forming  a national  advisory  council  assures  not  only  your  own 
country,  but  others,  that  Japan  will  have  profoundly  considered  advice  and 
suggestion  to  offer  when  a settlement  of  these  international  problems  is 
before  the  world. 

Your  Excellency,  eminent  men  from  your  nation  often  pass  through  the 
capital  of  the  territory  of  Hawaii,  and  quite  freely  express  their  ideas  and 
sentiments. 

Your  country  has  most  effective  representatives  and  speakers  to  present 
your  views  at  prominent  functions  in  our  great  eastern  cities. 

We  know  the  varying  individual  sentiments  of  individual  Japanese,  but 
await  with  profoundest  interest  on  your  Mission  in  its  official  expression 
of  the  heart  and  aims  of  the  Japanese  people  and  His  Imperial  Japanese 
Majesty  Yoshihito,  Emperor  of  Japan. 

No  nation  is  wise  in  its  judgment  of  its  enemies  until  it  has  taken  com- 
plete cognizance  of  every  fact  entering  into  the  problem,  until  it  sizes  up 
every  impulse  that  enters  into  the  strength  or  weakness  of  its  enemies — 
and  he  who  can  not  recognize  and  combat  the  strength  and  take  advantage 
of  the  weakness  of  his  country’s  enemies  is  a poor  citizen  and  unfit  for  the 
responsibilities  war  thrusts  on  soldiers  and  supporting  civilians. 

Hawaii,  through  the  efforts  of  its  governor,  today  stands  relatively  far 
at  the  head  of  the  National*  Guard  of  the  Ignited  States  and  has  already 
furnished  double  her  quota  in  complying  with  the  selective  draft. 

This  day  I have  received  by  wireless  from  the  other  islands  information 
that  enables  me  to  know  wherein  we  can  invite  the  Japanese  to  legally  join 
the  National  Guard,  and  orders  have  been  issued  to  the  adjutant  general  to 
form  a company  of  Japanese  for  the  National  Guard  of  Hawaii. 

I know  that  when  it  comes  to  action  on  the  field  of  battle  Americans, 
Hawaiians  and  Japanese  will  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  against  our  com- 
mon foe. 

Viscount  Ishii’s  Reply 

Viscount  Ishii  arose  to  reply  amid  ringing  applause.  He  said: 

Mr.  Governor  and  gentlemen : 

It  is  a matter  of  deep  regret  to  me  that  the  vocabulary  at  my  command 
is  so  deficient  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  adequately  express  the  apprecia- 
tion of  myself  and  the  members  of  my  party  of  the  welcome  you  are  now 
giving  us  on  the  threshold  of  this  outer  gateway  to  your  glorious  country. 

This  welcome  we  consider  as  a testimony  to  the  earnest  desire  of  the 
government  of  the  territory  to  show  every  courtesy  to  the  Mission — a testi- 
mony by  which  we  are  profoundly  touched  and  for  which  we  beg  to  express 
our  heartfelt  thanks. 

The  cordial  greeting  thus  extended  to  us  upon  our  arrival  in  the  territory 
of  your  great  commonwealth  will  hearten  us  on  our  way  to  the  Golden 


A HALT  AX  HONOLULU 


5 


Gate  and  to  Washington,  whither  we  are  hurrying,  with  a message  of  friend- 
ship and  appreciation  from  Japan,  whose  aims  and  ideals  are  at  one  with 
those  of  the  United  States  in  the  present  war. 

Here* I find  in  the  fields  and  in  the  marts  of  this  beautiful  land  the  Jap- 
anese are  living  and  working  happily  together  with  Americans  under  this 
highly  effective  and  able  administration.  What  I have  seen  and  what  I 
have  heard  today  afford  me  sincere  satisfaction.  But  this  is  not  all  that 
is  necessary  at  this  solemn  moment.  It  should  be  remembered  that  there  is 
an  additional  duty  w^hich  the  Japanese  residents  on  the  islands  of  Hawaii 
should  keep  constantly  before  them.  I mean  that  they  must  not  only  be 
satisfied  with  being  law  abiding,  industrious  and  considerate,  but  they  must 
be  ready  to  conform  themselves  to  the  requirements  of  circumstances.  They 
must  offer  and  render  whatever  tribute  of  friendship  and  good  will  they 
can  conceive  in  their  diversified  capacities  and  each  pay  to  the  countiy-  the 
obligation  of  a guest.  I firmly  believe  that  in  taking  this  position  and  in 
these  words  I am  merely  echoing  the  voice  and  reflecting  the  fixed  senti- 
ments of  the  Japanese  residents  of  Hawaii. 

I hasten  to  express  the  sense  of  pleasurable  satisfaction  we  feel  after  the 
round  of  visits  to  many  places  of  interest  which  we  have  made  this  after- 
noon under  the  courteous,  well  conceived  and  personal  guidance  of  Your 
Excellency  and  your  staff.  It  is  not  merely  flattery  to  state  that  the  charm 
and  beauty  of  this  land  of  yours  can  not  fail  to  soothe  the  traveler  after  a 
somewhat  monotonous  voyage.  Every  minute  spent  in  your  islands  is  replete 
with  comfort  and  delight,  and  surely  the  pleasant  experiences  of  this  after- 
noon will  never  be  erased  from  the  memories  of  this  special  Mission.  To 
me  it  was  particularly  interesting,  as  I was  able  to  mark  the  great  progress 
made  here,  both  industrially  and  otherwise,  since  my  last  visit  just  ten 
years  ago. 

Your  Excellency,  and  gentlemen,  noting  today  all  the  blessings  that  a 
prodigal  nature  first  provided  to  be  developed  later  by  man,  I felt  more 
deeply  than  I had  perhaps  felt  hitherto,  the  call  to  the  manhood  that  is 
in  me  and  in  us  all,  to  use  the  best  gifts  nature  has  bestowed  upon  us  in 
order  that,  in  cooperation  with  the  courage,  faith  and  honest  purpose  which 
are  so  well  typified  in  these  islands  of  Hawaii,  we  may  help  to  bring  the 
world,  in  due  course,  to  such  a peace  as  will  ensure  to  every  man  and  to 
every  nation  the  fruits  of  honest  endeavor.  We  thank  you. 

Crowned  with  flowers,  according  to  the  beautiful  Hawaiian  custom,  the 
commissioners  returned  to  their  steamer  and  the  voyage  was  resumed. 


Ill 


ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST 


On  August  13,  when  the  hills  of  California  were  still  dim  at  the  horizon, 
a United  States  battleship  circled  the  vessel  protectingly.  The  Japanese  liner 
hoisted  the  Rising  Sun  flag  at  her  forepeak  in  honor  of  her  distinguished  pas- 
sengers, and  came  to  a halt  outside  the  Golden  Gate  to  allow  a steamer  decked 
with  flags  to  put  on  board  a delegation  consisting  of  Mr.  Breckinridge  Long,  Third 
Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  and  representatives  of  the  army  and  navy  sent 
from  Washington  to  welcome  the  Imperial  Mission  on  approaching  the  shores 
of  America. 

Passing  inside  the  headlands  the  members  of  the  Mission  were  transferred 
to  a steam  launch  and  proceeded  at  high  speed  across  the  beautiful  bay  to  the 
landing  place,  where  an  enormous  assemblage  awaited  their  arrival.  Masses  of 
troops  at  salute  lined  the  street  while  the  Japanese  anthem  was  played. 

At  the  City  Hall 

Lines  of  troopers  rode  beside  the  automobiles  which  conducted  the  party 
to  the  Grand  Municipal  Chamber  of  the  City  Hall,  where  prolonged  cheers 
greeted  every  member  as  the  Mayor,  James  Rolph,  Jr.,  introduced  them  to  the 
assembled  citizens  who  crowded  the  chamber.  It  was  truly  a remarkable  dem- 
onstration of  good  will,  and  its  effect  upon  the  members  of  the  Mission  was 
marked.  After  a brief  but  happy  welcome  to  California  and  the  United  States 
by  the  Mayor,  Viscount  Ishii  arose,  and  said : 

Mr.  Mayor,  representatives  of  the  federal,  state  and  municipal  govern- 
ments, and  gentlemen  of  San  Francisco: 

On  the  part  of  my  government  and  my  people  I thank  you  for  this  cor- 
dial welcome  to  the  shores  of  America.  The  lavish  honors  which  you  have 
seen  fit  to  confer  upon  this  Mission  and  the  generosity  of  your  reception 
are  a guarantee  to  me  and  my  colleagues  that  the  purposes  of  our  visit  are 
understood  and  appreciated. 

We  are  here  as  the  representatives  of  Japan  on  a mission  of  friendship 
and  good  will.  We  come  to  you  as  allies  in  a common  cause,  as  comrades 
in  a gigantic  struggle  which  involves  the  liberties  and  the  most  sacred  rights 
of  mankind. 

An  outburst  of  cheers,  prolonged  by  applause,  halted  the  speaker  for  some 
moments.  He  continued : 


ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST 


7 


This,  perhaps,  is  neither  the  time  nor  the  place  for  a detailed  exposition 
of  the  plans  and  hopes  which  inspire  us.  It  is  sufficient  that  you  see  in 
our  presence  here  this  afternoon  Japan’s  pledge  of  loyalty  to  the  principles 
for  which  America  has  thrown  down  the  gage  of  battle.  We  shall  proceed 
to  Washington,  carrying  to  your  great  President  and  to  the  American  people 
a message  of  fraternity,  confidence  and  cheer.  It  is  our  ambition — if  that 
were  necessary — to  impress  once  more  upon  the  American  people  the  solemn 
fact  that  Japan  stands  with  you,  heart  and  soul,  in  your  lofty  purpose  to 
make  this  world  the  safe  abiding  place  of  liberty,  justice  and  fair  play. 
In  this  crisis  of  the  world’s  affairs  we  are  proud  to  call  ourselves  the  allies 
of  the  great  American  Republic,  and  we  are  honored  by  your  trust  and 
good  will. 

I can  only  add  that  this  splendid  demonstration  at  the  very  moment  of 
our  arrival  on  your  hospitable  shores  fills  our  hearts  with  gratitude  and 
inspires  every  member  of  this  Mission  with  the  conviction  that  the  objects 
of  our  visit  to  America  are  already  guaranteed. 

I again  thank  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  gentlemen  of  the  reception  com- 
mittee, and  beg  that  you  will  convey  to  the  good  people  of  America,  and 
more  particularly  to  those  of  San  Francisco  and  the  great  state  of  Cali- 
fornia, Japan’s  appreciation  of  the  honors  done  her  this  day.  I can  only 
add  the  very  imperfect  assurances  of  my  personal  gratitude. 


Secretary  Lansing’s  Telegram 

On  August  14  the  following  telegram  was  received  by  Viscount  Ishii  from 
Mr.  Robert  Lansing,  Secretary  of  State,  dated  from  Washington,  D.  C. : 

The  President  directs  me  to  welcome  your  high  Mission  to  our  country 
and  to  assure  you  of  the  cordial  reception  you  will  have  from  the  American 
people,  who  have  ever  entertained  the  warmest  feelings  for  your  nation  and 
have  admired  the  earnestness  with  which  your  people  of  the  Far  East  have 
won  so  honorable  a place  among  nations  by  devotion  to  their  national  devel- 
opment. May  the  ties  that  bind  our  nations  ever  increase  in  strength  through 
a fraternal  community  of  national  aspirations. 


Citizens’  Committee  Luncheon 

The  receipt  of  the  Secretary’s  telegram  was  the  prelude  to  a busy  day.  The 
first  important  function  was  a luncheon  tendered  by  the  Mayor  and  Citizens’ 
Committee  of  San  Francisco  at  the  Cliff  House,  whither  the  visiting  party  were 
driven  in  motor  cars,  enjoying  the  views  of  the  city  and  bay  of  San  Francisco 
and  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  with  the  sealrocks  in  the  foreground  peopled  by  their 
furry  amphibians,  and  the  seas  breaking  over  them  in  foam  and  thunder.  The 
occasion  was  thoroughly  enjoyable,  formality  being  as  far  as  possible  waived. 
After  Mayor  Rolph  had  heartily  welcomed  the  Viscount  and  the  delegation. 
Viscount  Ishii  replied  with  much  feeling: 


8 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Mr.  Mayor,  gentlemen  of  San  Francisco,  and  friends: 

Your  courtesy  this  afternoon  is  very  gratifying  to  me,  and  its  expres- 
sion is  typical  of  all  I know  of  San  Francisco.  Your  presence  here  and  the 
beautiful  spot  you  have  chosen  for  this  demonstration  of  good  will,  would, 
if  I were  an  orator,  inspire  words  which  I,  unfortunately,  do  not  command. 
It  is  most  fitting,  I think,  that  Americans  and  Japanese  should  stand  here, 
almost  in  the  surf  of  the  great  ocean  which  we  both  love,  to  pledge  our 
faith  in  each  other  and  consecrate  ourselves  anew  to  the  common  interests 
which  unite  us. 

I am  grateful  because  I can  interpret  your  courtesy  and  your  hospi- 
tality in  but  one  way,  and  that  is  a way  which  accords  with  the  hopes  and 
the  desires  of  the  people  whom  I have  the  honor  to  represent.  It  means 
good  will.  It  means  that  you  want  kindly  relations  with  Japan  just  as 
Japan  wants  them  with  you.  It  means  that  your  minds  and  hearts  are  open 
to  friendship  and  all  that  friendship  implies.  It  means  peace,  trade,  fellow- 
ship and  a common  interest  in  a common  civilization.  For  these  assur- 
ances of  spirit  and  purpose  I thank  you  in  the  name  of  my  government  and 
people. 

My  own  mission  to  this  countrv  is  one  of  peace  and  good  will.  I come 
to  you  at  a critical  time  in  the  affairs  of  men  to  consult  upon  grave  matters 
of  common  interest.  I come  to  you  as  an  ally  in  arms,  bringing  the  assur- 
ance of  the  liberty  loving  people  of  Taoan  that  they  stand  with  you,  shoul- 
der to  shoulder,  in  the  great  struggle  which  you  are  now  making  for  justice 
and  human  rights.  I come  to  coneratulate  you  on  your  solendid  courage 
in  demonstrating  to  the  whole  world  that  a nation  can  rise  to  such  moral 
heights,  and  put  considerations  of  humanity  before  love  of  ease,  of  wealth, 
or  life  itself. 

Surely  this  welcome  at  the  very  threshold  of  the  Golden  Gate  is  a 
happy  omen.  It  not  only  fills  my  heart  and  the  hearts  of  the  members  of 
my  suite  with  pride  and  satisfaction,  but  it  carries  the  assurance  that  our 
Mission  is  destined  to  bring  a harvest  of  good  things. 

Permit  me  once  more,  Mr.  Mayor,  to  thank  you  for  your  gracious  wel- 
come, your  unbounded  hospitality,  and,  above  all,  for  this  demonstration 
of  good  will  towards  my  country.  You  have  done  us  much  honor,  but  more 
than  this  you  have  placed  me  and  all  of  us  under  an  obligation  which,  while 
great  indeed,  must  be  for  all  time  a pleasant  burden.  It  is  a debt  we  will 
find  delight  in  paying  in  part  whenever  and  wherever  opportunity  shall  offer. 
In  any  event,  I assure  you  San  Francisco  will  remain  a happy  memory. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  General  Sugano  was  given  his  first  glimpse  of  Amer- 
ican troops  in  force  when  he  reviewed  six  thousand  soldiers  and  sailors  with 
Major  General  Hunter  Liggitt  commanding  the  Western  Department  of  the 
U.  S.  Army. 


Municipal  Banquet 

It  was,  however,  a very  high  and  important  function  that  awaited  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Alission  for  the  evening.  At  the  Palace  Hotel  preparations  were 


ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST 


9 


being  made  for  five  hundred  guests  for  a great  banquet.  And  wonders  had 
been  accomplished  in  the  use  of  lights  and  colors  and  flowers  in  decorations 
proper  for  honoring  the  guests  of  the  Far  East.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  were 
conspicuously  draped  with  the  Rising  Sun  flag  of  Japan.  The  dinner  was  given 
under  the  auspices  of  the  city  of  San  Francisco,  and  as  to  cuisine,  appointments 
and  service  certainly  won  deserved  praise.  The  speakers’  table  was  dotted  with 
uniforms;  high  officers  of  the  American  army  sat  in  khaki  with  Major  General 
Hisaichi  Sugano  and  naval  officers  in  blue  surrounded  Vice  Admiral  T.  Takeshita, 
the  ranking  army  and  navy  representatives  on  the  IMission ; the  State  Depart- 
ment delegates  were  headed  by  Breckinridge  Long,  Third  Assistant  Secretary 
of  State.  It  was  altogether  a brilliant  and  representative  gathering.  Mr.  Gavin 
McNab  acted  as  toastmaster.  In  opening  the  addresses  he  said  in  part: 

San  Francisco  has  the  honor,  on  behalf  of  our  country,  to  welcome  to 
America  these  distinguished  representatives  of  a nation,  now  our  ally — 
always  our  friend — Japan. 

The  visit  of  these  statesmen,  important  though  it  would  be  at  any  time, 
is  on  this  momentous  occasion  fraught  with  transcendent  consequences,  not 
only  to  our  people  but  to  the  world  and  to  the  future  of  the  human  race. 

America  and  Japan  on  opposite  sides  of  the  Pacific  have  learned  that 
this  mighty  ocean  unites  and  does  not  divide  our  people.  This  vast  water  is 
nature’s  greatest  commercial  gift  to  man.  It  is  an  inspiration — an  invita- 
tion— to  enterprise  and  adventure,  with  possibilities  capable  of  marvels.  On 
its  broad  bosom  will,  in  days  to  come,  float  the  largest  commerce  of  the 
world;  on  its  shores  will  be  the  theatre  in  which  the  future  will  stage  the 
grandest  drama  of  human  events. 

America,  representing  the  newest  civilization,  and  Japan,  speaking  for 
the  newest  and  oldest  civilization,  facing  each  other  across  these  waters, 
are  partners  and  trustees  for  the  world  in  the  destinies  of  these  shores  and 
these  seas.  In  the  tragic  events  that  are  remaking  the  world  we  stand 
together. 

When  our  country  joined  the  war  to  fight  for  the  permanent  peace  of  ' 
all  the,  world,  our  great  President,  in  language  as  noble  as  that  of  the 
prophets  of  Israel,  voiced  the  spirit  of  our  people  and  the  heart  of  humanity 
in  declaring  for  the  freedom  and  rights  of  all  mankind,  and,  in  words  en- 
titled to  a place  in  scripture,  declared  that  the  Golden  Rule  should  be  inter- 
national law. 

When  the  sacrifices  of  a bleeding  world  have  made  His  words  true,  man 
will  be  worthy  of  Him  who  said : “I  have  made  man  in  my  own  image.” 

Tonight,  with  the  hands  of  America  and  Japan  joined  across  the  ocean,  we 
dedicate  ourselves  to  this  noble  and  righteous  cause,  serenely  facing  the 
opinion  of  posterity,  the  verdict  of  history,  and  the  judgment  of  Almighty 
God. 

In  the  course  of  paying  special  compliment  to  the  Imperial  Mission,  Gover- 
nor Stephens  said  in  part: 


10 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


We  are  allies.  In  the  most  titanic  war  in  the  annals  of  history  Japan 
and  America  have  one  aim — the  preservation  of  democracy ; one  aspira- 
tion— the  triumph  of  international  justice. 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  promote  discord  between  the  two  nations, 
but  without  success.  The  recent  “Zimmerman  note,”  cunningly  designed  to 
stir  up  strife  and  resentment  between  our  governments,  failed  in  its  purpose 
and  won  only  the  contempt  of  the  Japanese  people. 

Even  if  there  were  no  present  war  to  bind  together  our  two  nations, 
our  common  purpose  and  our  common  good  would  call  for  a policy  of 
peace  and  amity.  Neither  country  has  anything  to  achieve,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  everything  to  lose,  by  fostering  or  permitting  to  exist  a spirit  of 
inharmony  and  distrust.  We  now  are  joined  in  a cause  which  demands  our 
united  energy  and  strength,  our  fullest  cooperation,  and  our  unswerving 
loyalty. 

We  welcome  you  to  America  and  trust  that  you  will  carry  back  with 
you  assurances  of  our  great  respect  and  high  esteem,  together  with  the  felici- 
tations of  the  American  government  and  the  American  people  to  the  govern- 
ment and  to  the  people  of  Japan. 

Mayor  Rolph  followed  in  an  address  which  breathed  the  spirit  of  hospi- 
tality and  good  will. 

When,  in  response  to  the  invitation  of  Toastmaster  McNab,  Viscount  Ishii 
arose  to  speak,  the  applause  seemed  to  know  no  bounds  and  was  long  continued. 
He  said: 

Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen  of  San  Francisco: 

Words  fail  me  when  I undertake  to  acknowledge  the  full  measure  of 
our  obligation  to  your  city  and  yourself.  Notwithstanding  the  lessons  of 
tradition  and  the  generous  foretaste  of  American  hospitality  we  received  at 
Honolulu,  we  are  overwhelmed. 

We  are  very  proud  because  we  know  .that  this  royal  welcome  you 
extend  to  us  springs  from  the  heart  of  a nation  whose  every  emotion  finds 
response  in  the  pulses  that  beat  in  the  brawny  arm  of  San  Francisco,  now 
flinging  wide  the  Golden  Gate,  and  offering  the  hand  outstretched  to  greet  us. 

We  come  to  you  at  the  dawning  of  a new  day.  As  individuals  we  have ' 
no  right  to  expect  to  find  place  at  this  busy  time  of  preparation.  But  we 
come  as  the  humble  representatives  of  the  gracious  sovereign  of  a friendly 
and  a loyal  nation,  and  we  say  that  we  know  well  that  performance  not 
profession,  deeds  not  words,  sacrifice  not  selfishness,  are  the  requisites  of 
the  hour. 

Our  message  is  that  in  this  day,  through  its  hours  of  shadow  or  of 
sunshine,  your  purpose  is  our  purpose,  your  road  our  road,  and  your  goal 
our  goal.  It  is  that  America  and  Japan  will  march  together,  work  together 
and  fight  together  as  comrades  until  the  end  has  been  reached  and  the 
victory  won  in  the  struggle  which  involves  our  rights  and  our  liberties. 

We  are  here  to  say  that  in  this  tremendous  struggle  for  those  rights 
and  liberties,  America  and  Japan  are  bound  together;  that  when  the  victory 


ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST 


11 


of  the  Allied  forces  is  secure,  America  and  Japan  should  so  live  that  your 
sons  and  our  sons  will  have  a certainty  of  good-neighborhood ; so  live  that 
no  word  or  deed  of  either  can  be  looked  upon  with  suspicion;  that  venom- 
ous gossip,  hired  slander,  sinister  intrigue,  and  influence  of  all  of  which  we 
have  both  been  the  victims,  can  in  future  only  serve  to  bring  us  closer 
together  for  mutual  protection  and  for  the  common  welfare. 

The  importance  of  such  cooperation  was  brought  home  to  us  particu- 
larly as  we  voyaged  safely  and  pleasantly  across  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We 
must  indeed  have  assurance  of  good  order  in  our  neighborhood.  We  can 
not  either  of  us  take  risks.  It  becomes  the  first  duty  of  Japan  and  America 
to  guard  the  Pacific  and  to  ensure  safe,  continuous  intercourse  between  Asia 
and  the  United  States ; to  see  to  it  that  the  ships  of  the  ferocious  pirates, 
whose  crimes  upon  the  high  seas  can  never  be  palliated  or  atoned  for,  find 
no  shelter  in  the  waters  of  our  seas.  It  is  for  us  together  to  continue  to 
enforce  respect  for  law  and  humanity  upon  the  Pacific  from  which  the 
German  menace  was  removed  at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  Had  this 
not  been  so,  had  the  Barbarian  of  Europe  not  been  rooted  from  his  Oriental 
bases,  the  shuddering  horrors  of  the  Atlantic  and  the  Mediterranean  would 
today  be  a grim  reality  on  the  Pacific.  In  the  protection  of  our  sea  going 
merchandise  and  men,  in  safeguarding  the  pleasures  of  intercourse,  you  may 
count  on  us  as  we  must  count  on  you. 

Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen,  in  the  dawning  of  this  new  day  of  stress 
and  strain  let  us  forget  the  little  molehills  that  had  been  exaggerated  into 
mountains  to  bar  our  good  relations.  Let  us  see  together  with  a clearer 
vision  the  pitfalls  dug  by  a cunning  enemy  in  our  path.  Let  us  together  fix 
our  eyes  upon  the  star  of  principle  which  shall  lead  us  together  most  surely 
to  a participation  in  the  triumph  of  the  right,  to  a certain  victory  in  the 
greatest,  and,  let  us  hope,  the  last  great  war  in  human  history.  And  when 
that  victory  shall  have  been  won,  let  us  together,  with  the  same  courage 
and  devotion  as  has  been  shown  by  this  magnificent  city,  help  in  the  up- 
building of  a new  world  which  shall  rise  as  San  Francisco  has  risen,  well 
ordered,  strong  and  beautiful,  from  the  ashes  of  the  old. 

Viscount  Ishii’s  Dinner 

Various  excursions  for  the  members  of  the  Imperial  Mission  filled  the 
morning  hours  of  the  third  day  in  San  Francisco,  but  they  assembled  in  the 
evening  at  the  St.  Francis  Hotel,  where  Viscount  Ishii  had  ordered  a feast  by 
way  of  graciously  turning  the  tables  upon  his  lavish  American  hosts,  headed 
by  Breckinridge  Long  of  the  State  Department,  Governor  Stephens,  Mayor 
Rolph,  the  chairman  of  the  Dinner  Committee,  and  the  naval  and  military  officers 
taking  part  in  the  various  functions  and  festivities.  It  was  a large  and  brilliant 
party,  over  which  sincerity  and  good  humor  presided.  Viscount  Ishii,  address- 
ing the  gathering,  said: 

Gentlemen  and  friends:  My  first  and  most  manifest  duty  this  evening 
is  to  thank  you  for  the  honor  of  your  presence.  I do  so  with  deep  sin- 
cerity, fully  realizing  the  import  of  your  kindness  and  courtesy. 


12 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


This  is  probably  my  last  evening,  for  the  present,  in  San  Francisco,  and 
I am  happy  to  have  the  opportunity  of  saying  to  you,  however  imperfectly, 
before  proceeding  eastward  on  my  mission,  how  profoundly  I have  been  im- 
pressed with  the  hospitality  and  the  bigness  of  your  people  and  city.  You 
have  placed  me  and  the  members  of  my  suite  under  lasting  obligations  of 
gratitude.  You  have  convinced  my  government  and  people  that  the  heart 
of  the  great  West  is  all  right,  and  that  friendly  cooperation  from  now  on  is 
to  be  the  keynote  of  all  relations  between  America  and  Japan. 

During  the  past  three  days  I have  been  making  what  I believe  you  call 
m America  a whirlwind  campaign.  Your  kindness  has  been  the  whirlwind, 
and  I and  my  colleagues  have  been  the  wind  driven  leaves.  Fortunately, 
we  are  most  of  us  young  men  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  we  are  endeavor- 
ing to  stand  up  as  bravely  as  possible  to  the  kindly  blast.  I am  fully  con- 
vinced, however,  that  the  city  of  San  Francisco,  headed  by  its  gallant  Mayor, 
has  entered  into  some  kind  of  a conspiracy  on  this  occasion  to  outdo  its 
own  worldwide  reputation  for  hospitality ; and  when  you  remember  that  this 
conspiracy  has  been  aided  and  abetted  by  the  federal  government  of  the 
United  States  and  by  the  sovereign  state  of  California,  you  will  form  some 
idea  of  what  it  means  to  stand  directly  in  the  path  of  the  wind. 

But,  aside  from  all  pleasantry,  gentlemen,  I have  indeed  much  occasion 
for  satisfaction  tonight.  The  unstinted  honors  which  you  have  extended 
to  this  Mission  are  a notice  to  all  the  world  that  America  and  Japan  are 
standing  side  by  side  in  the  great  issues  of  the  day.  You  have  spoken  the 
word  here  in  San  Francisco  which  binds  us  in  harmony  of  purpose.  Your 
action  clears  away  many  a doubt  and  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of 
the  people  of  both  countries  as  to  our  mutual  aims  and  aspirations.  The 
hand  of  friendship  which  you  have  extended  to  me  personally  will  be 
accepted  by  the  people  of  Japan  as  a tender  of  sincere  good  will  towards 
the  sovereign  and  the  people  whom  I have  the  honor  to  represent.  You 
have  made  the  work  of  this  Mission  easier,  and  it  will  proceed  upon  its 
way  to  the  seat  of  government  in  Washington,  buoyed  up  with  the  assur- 
ances of  America’s  friendly  spirit.  Your  generous  attitude  makes  it  pos- 
sible for  every  fair  minded  man  to  believe  that  there  are  no  pending  ques- 
tions between  America  and  Japan  which,  approached  in  this  spirit,  are  not 
susceptible  of  honorable  and  fair  adjustment. 

I take  my  leave  of  you,  gentlemen,  with  a very  full  and  grateful  heart, 
and,  in  the  name  of  my  government  and  the  Japanese  people,  I again  thank 
you  for  the  welcome  extended  to  my  Mission. 

When  the  applause  died  down  on  the  conclusion  of  the  Viscount’s  speech, 
Mr.  Gavin  McNab  arose  and  said: 

Ambassador  Ishii  refers  to  the  warmth  of  San  Francisco’s  welcome  to 
himself  and  party.  But  this  reception  is  founded  not  on  hospitality  alone. 
Long  ago  California’s  hospitality  passed  into  a proverb.  Perhaps  this  was 
due  to  our  origin.  California  entered  civilization  under  the  cross  and  not 
by  the  sword.  The  year  the  Liberty  Bell  on  the  Atlantic  rang  the  birth  of 
a nation  in  the  throes  of  war,  the  mission  bells  on  the  shores  of  the  ocean 
named  for  Peace  rang  out  the  birth  of  San  Francisco. 


ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST 


13 


The  gentle  padres  whose  spiritual  wanderings  sanctified  our  soil  built 
the  quaint  mission  churches — a horseback  ride  apart — and  the  traveler  was 
cared  for  without  price ; the  Spanish  Don,  who  measured  his  land  by  the 
league  and  not  the  acre,  and  whose  cattle  ranged  a hundred  hills,  gave  the 
stranger  his  house  and  all;  the  pioneer,  who  found  the  gold  whose  magic 
charm  assembled  here  the  greatest  adventurers  from  all  the  world,  shared 
his  plenty  with  all.  Thus  hospitality  became  a tradition  of  the  W'est.  But  it 
is  with  more  than  hospitality  that  we  greet  these  great  men  from  over  the 
sea.  Our  feelings  for  them  are  inspired  by  the  loftiest  and  noblest  emo- 
tions. They  and  we  stand  together  as  comrades  in  the  greatest  crisis  that 
has  ever  confronted  mankind.  That  the  world  may  be  saved  for  humanity, 
that  civilization  shall  be  preserved,  our  soldiers  and  sailors  fight  as  brothers 
on  land  and  sea. 

When  our  two  peoples  shed  martyr  blood  in  the  struggle  for  the  grand- 
est cause  and  purpose  for  which  the  human  race  ever  fought,  by  that  pledge 
of  blood  we  insure  the  everlasting  peace  and  friendship  of  these  nations 
and  these  peoples.  The  glorious  sacrifice  of  our  heroic  dead  shall  be  a bond 
of  peace  for  those  who  live. 

The  effect  of  the  Imperial  Mission  in  arousing  public  opinion  throughout 
the  country  was  magical.  Full  reports  of  the  various  welcoming  functions 
in  San  Francisco  were  printed  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land, 
and  something  manful  in  the  utterances  of  Viscount  Ishii  appealed  to  America. 
At  last  Japan’s  protestations  of  good  faith  were  believed.  Here  was  an  inter- 
national juncture  at  w'hich  a half-hearted  friend  might  have  remained  silent ; but 
it  was  surely  a man  and  a friend  who  came  over  the  sea  to  tell  us  that  his 
country,  Japan,  was  beside  ours  to  the  end  in  the  war — an  ally  able  to  wear  a 
sword  as  well  as  a friend  to  help  us  shoulder  our  load.  San  Francisco  simply 
outdid  itself  in  its  courtly  attentions  to  the  Imperial  Mission,  making  every  mem- 
ber feel  that  his  presence  had  contributed  largely  to  the  pleasure  as  well  as  to 
the  significance  of  the  functions. 

Viscount  Ishii  had  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  Mission  was  really  a diplomatic 
one  and  that  he  was  called  on  to  present  himself  to  President  Wilson  at  Wash- 
ington at  as  early  a date  as  possible.  Hence  the  necessity  of  bringing  the  round 
of  festivities  to  an  end,  however  alluring  they  might  be. 


IV 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


Welcome  to  Washington  by  Secretary  Lansing 

The  journey  to  the  national  capital  was  made  direct  and  was  carried  through 
by  the  railroad  authorities  in  the  very  best  manner.  A special  train  brought 
the  entire  delegation  to  Washington.  On  board  representing  the  American 
government  were  Breckinridge  Long,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State;  Ran- 
ford  S.  Miller,  Consul  General  at  Seoul,  Korea,  who  had  been  assigned  as  aide 
to  Viscount  Ishii ; Brigadier  General  James  A.  Irons,  U.  S.  A.,  formerly  military 
attache  at  the  American  Embassy  at  Tokio  and  designated  as  aide  to  General 
Sugano,  and  Captain  C.  C.  Marsh,  U.  S.  N.,  assigned  as  aide  to  Vice  Admiral 
Takeshita. 

In  addition  to  Viscount  Ishii,  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita  and  Major  General 
Sugano,  the  Mission  party  included  Masanao  Hanihara,  Consul  General  at  San 
Francisco ; Matsuzo  Nagai,  Secretary  of  the  Foreign  Office ; Commander  Ando, 
Imperial  Japanese  Navy;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tanikawa,  Imperial  Japanese  Army; 
Tadanao  Imai,  Vice  Consul ; Tashiro  Owaku,  Secretary,  and  Douglas  L.  Dunbar, 
American  Secretary  of  the  Mission. 

When  the  train  drew  into  the  Union  Station  on  Wednesday,  August  22, 
Secretary  of  State  Robert  Lansing  was  on  hand  to  greet  the  Imperial  Mission 
on  behalf  of  the  President.  With  him  were  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  William 
Phillips,  A.  B.  Ruddock,  Secretary  of  the  Embassy  attached  to  the  State  Depart- 
ment, and  Colonel  W.  W.  Harts,  U.  S.  A.,  Military  Aide  to  President  Wilson. 
Two  troops  of  United  States  cavalry  to  act  as  escort  were  drawn  up  outside 
the  grand  portal. 

The  New  Hampshire  Avenue  residence  of  Perry  Belmont,  grandson  of 
Commodore  Perry,  had  been  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  visitors.  Its  spacious 
drawing  rooms  contain  many  relics  and  mementoes  which  Perry  brought  back 
with  him  from  his  epoch  making  call  on  the  Mikado. 

. Greetings  on  both  sides  were  extremely  cordial.  Japanese  Ambassador  Sato 
was  present  with  all  his  aides  to  welcome  his  brother  diplomat.  Passing  through 
streets  thronged  with  people,  past  long  lines  of  school  children  dressed  in  white, 
with  the  red  sun  of  Japan  on  the  fronts  of  their  gowns,  the  distinguished  visitors 
were  escorted  by  the  cavalry.  The  display  of  Japanese  colors  and  cries  of  school 
children  as  the  party  passed  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue  and  by  the  Treasury  Build- 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


15 


ing,  where  the  greater  part  of  the  crowds  had  gathered,  appeared  to  delight  the 
visitors  immensely.  Viscount  Ishii  rode  bareheaded  most  of  the  time,  bowing 
and  smiling  joyfully  at  every  outburst. 

The  cortege  duly  reached  the  Belmont  residence  to  be  the  guests  of  the 
government  during  their  stay.  It  was  arranged  that  the  formal  calls,  which  must 
precede  the  official  conferences,  would  take  place  next  day. 


Viscount  Ishii  to  the  Press 

Viscount  Ishii,  the  special  ambassador,  spoke  to  the  newspaper  correspond- 
ents in  the  afternoon  of  his  gratification  at  the  welcome  given  the  Mission  at 
the  national  capital,  at  Honolulu,  San  Francisco  and  at  all  stages  of  its  journey. 
He  would  not  give  extended  interviews  until  he  had  made  his  formal  call  on 
President  Wilson,  but  made  the  following  statement: 


To  say  I am  pleased  to  be  in  Washington  would  be  too  conventional. 
I am  delighted,  we  are  all  delighted,  with  the  cordial  reception  tendered  to 
us  everywhere  and  with  the  splendid  spirit  of  hospitality  and  of  good  will 
we  have  found  at  all  points. 

In  speaking  to  the  gentlemen  of  a newspaper  press,  which  wields  such 
enormous  power  in  this  great  country,  I am  well  aware  that  purely  con- 
ventional and  formal  utterance  is  worse  than  nothing — it  sounds  empty.  But 
at  the  same  time,  what  can  I say?  I have  not  even  done  my  first  duty  as  a 
guest.  Obviously  it  would  be  improper  therefore  to  anticipate  the  message 
I carry  from  the  Emperor  of  Japan  to  your  great  President. 

My  last  visit  to  America  was  just  ten  years  ago,  and  even  on  my  short 
drive  through  your  very  beautiful  streets  this  morning  I was  able  to  mark 
many  changes  for  the  better,  though  Washington  has  always  remained  a 
pleasant  memory.  Many  things  have  changed,  and  now  that  Japan  and 
America  are  together  brothers  in  arms  and  fighting  for  a great  common 
cause,  I have  every  hope  and  confidence  in  success,  victory  and  for  con- 
tinued international  amity. 

In  the  evening  the  Mission  dined  informally  with  Ambassador  Sato  at  his 
residence. 


At  the  White  House 

On  Thursday  afternoon  Viscount  Ishii,  accompanied  by  Ambassador  Sato 
and  the  members  of  the  Mission,  called  at  the  State  Department  and  were  received 
by  Secretary  of  State  Lansing.  Shortly  thereafter,  Secretary  I^nsing  conducted 
the  Viscount  and  his  party,  including  Ambassador  Sato,  to  the  White  House.  In 
the  Blue  Room  they  were  presented  formally  to  President  Wilson.  It  was  an 
impressive  proceeding. 


16 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


The  formal  presentation  of  the  envoy’s  credentials  took  the  form  of  the 
delivery  of  an  autographed  document  from  the  Emperor  of  Japan  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  accordance  with  custom  this  message  was  not 
made  public. 

Viscount  Ishii  is  reported  to  have  said: 

i\Ir.  President : On  this  occasion  I have  the  good  fortune  to  be  the 
bearer  of  a special  message  of  welcome  and  deep  appreciation  from  His  Im- 
perial IMajesty  the  Emperor  of  Japan  to  the  President  and  sovereign  people 
of  the  United  States  of  America  on  their  momentous  decision  to  cooperate 
in  the  great  war  now  raging. 

His  Majesty,  interpreting  the  unanimous  sentiment  of  Japan,  congratu- 
lates your  great  country  on  this  determination.  It  has  been  arrived  at  not 
lightly  and  in  a moment  of  passion,  but  after  the  exercise  of  a noble  patience 
and  in  a spirit  of  unselfish  chivalry  which  have  excited  the  admiration  of  the 
whole  world.  That  America  is  now  fighting  on  the  side  of  Japan  is  a source 
of  pride  to  His  Majesty  and  to  every  Japanese. 

It  is  not  the  first  time,  I may  be  allowed  to  remind  you,  Mr.  President, 
that  this  has  happened.  In  1900  I had  the  privilege  of  seeing  with  my  own 
eyes  the  American  and  Japanese  colors  waving  together,  when  the  allied 
troops,  in  the  face  of  terrible  difficulties,  triumphantly  relieved  the  besieged 
legations  at  Peking.  I well  remember  the  skill  and  courage  with  which  the 
American  civilians  and  soldiers  cooperated  in  the  defense.  The  resourceful 
bravery  which  those  few  Americans  showed  then  American  legions  will  show 
now. 

The  auspicious  cooperation  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  Japan 
in  the  tremendous  task  of  restoring  the  reign  of  mutual  confidence  and  good 
will  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  can  not  but  draw  us  closer  together. 
Our  common  efforts  are  directed  to  seeking  an  enduring  peace  based  on 
respect  for  the  independence  of  the  smallest  and  weakest  states ; on  con- 
tempt for  the  arrogance  of  materialist  force;  on  reverence  for  the  pledged 
word.  In  the  service  of  these  common  ideals  our  two  countries  must  surely 
realize  a far  nearer  friendship  than  before. 

This  is  no  ordinary  war.  It  is  an  issue  between  common  morality  and 
an  inhuman  system  of  calculated  aggression  which  would  render  all  friendly 
intercourse  impossible.  The  welcome  fact  that  the  United  States  stands  side 
by  side  with  the  Allied  Powers  is  a guarantee  of  early  victory,  and  so  His 
Imperial  Majesty  hails  it  as  such  with  deep  gratification. 

The  President  said  in  reply : 

Mr.  Ambassador:  It  is  with  a sense  of  deep  satisfaction  that  I receive 
from  your  hand  the  letters  whereby  you  are  accredited  as  the  ambassador 
extraordinary  and  plenipotentiary  of  Japan  on  special  mission  to  the  United 
States.  It  is  a pleasure  to  accept  through  you  from  your  imperial  sovereign 
congratulations  on  the  entrance  of  the  United  States  into  the  great  conflict 
which  is  now  raging. 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


17 


The  present  struggle  is  specially  characterized  by  the  development  of 
the  spirit  of  cooperation  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  world  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  rights  of  nations  and  the  liberties  of  individuals.  I as- 
sure Your  Excellency  that  standing  as  our  countries  now  do,  associated  in 
this  great  struggle  for  the  vindication  of  justice,  there  will  be  developed 
those  close  ties  of  fellowship  which  must  come  from  the  mutual  sacrifice 
of  life  and  property.  May  the  efforts  now  being  exerted  by  an  indignant 
humanity  lead  at  the  proper  time  to  the  complete  establishment  of  justice 
and  to  a peace  which  will  be  both  permanent  and  serene. 

I trust  Your  Excellency  will  find  your  sojourn  among  us  most  agree- 
able, and  I should  be  gratified  if  you  would  be  so  good  as  to  make  known  to 
His  Imperial  Majesty  my  best  wishes  for  his  welfare,*  for  that  of  your 
wonderful  country  and  for  the  happiness  of  its  people. 

I am  most  happy  to  accord  you  recognition  in  your  high  capacity. 

During  the  presentation  of  Viscount  Ishii  to  the  President,  Major  General 
Sugano,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tanikawa,  called  upon  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  and  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita,  accompanied  by  Commander  Ando,  paid 
his  respects  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Later  in  the  afternoon.  Secretaries  Lansing,  Baker  and  Daniels  paid  return 
calls  at  the  Belmont  residence  on  the  members  of  the  Japanese  Mission. 

As  guests  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  Vdscount  Ishii  and  the  other 
members  of  the  Japanese  Mission  were  banqueted  at  the  White  House  in  the 
evening.  It  was  a brilliant  entertainment.  In  addition  to  the  Imperial  IMission, 
resident  Japanese  Ambassador  Sato  attended;  also  were  present  the  members  of 
the  Cabinet,  Senator  Saulsbury,  President  pro  tempore  of  the  Senate ; Speaker 
Clark,  of  the  House  of  Representatives ; Supreme  Court  Justice  Brandeis  and 
representatives  of  the  Senate  and  House.  Anrong  others  were  Rear  Admiral 
Benson,  Major  General  Hugh  L.  Scott,  Herbert  C.  Hoover,  the  food  adminis- 
trator; Frank  Scott,  chairman  of  the  War  Industries  Board;  Judge  Robert  S. 
Lovett,  Bernard  M.  Baruch  and  Hugh  Frayne.  The  function  was  without  for- 
malities. President  Wilson,  how'ever,  as  host,  was  extremely  cordial  to  the  guest 
of  honor,  and  all  the  Japanese  present  proclaimed  their  pleasure  in  the  experience. 

Formal  calls  by  Viscount  Ishii  and  the  members  of  the  Imperial  Mission 
were  made  on  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  early  on  the  following 
day  (August  24).  At  the  Senate  they  were  received  by  Senator  Saulsbury  and 
at  the  House  by  Speaker  Clark.  The  calls  were  formal.  On  both  sides  they 
were  marked  by  pleasantly  spoken  sentiments. 

The  legislative  wheels  practically  suspended  motion  during  the  brief  visit 
of  the  Japanese  Mission.  Numerous  Senators  and  Congressmen  revived  acquain- 
tance with  members  of  the  party  who  at  one  time  or  another  were  connected 
with  the  Japanese  Embassy  in  Washington.  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita  and  former 
Secretary  of  the  Embassy  Hanihara  in  particular  became  central  figures  in  in- 
formal receptions  as  they  passed  through  the  corridors  of  the  Capitol. 


18 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


The  calls  of  the  Mission  to  the  Capitol  were  later  returned  by  Senator  Sauls- 
bury  and  Speaker  Clark.  Both  men  remained  some  time  at  the  Belmont  resi- 
dence, the  former  reviving  recollections  of  visits  to  Japan. 

In  the  evening  dinners  were  given  by  Secretary  of  War  Baker  and  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  Daniels  in  honor  respectively  of  Major  General  Sugano  and  Vice 
Admiral  Takeshita.  The  company  in  each  case  was  composed  of  officers  of 
the  arm  of  the  service  represented  by  the  guest  of  honor. 

A Visit  to  Annapolis 

A visit  to  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis  was  the  feature  of  Saturday, 
August  25.  A private  car  attached  to  the  Annapolis  train  bore  Viscount  Ishii 
and  the  Mission,  depositing  them  in  record  time  at  the  main  gate  of  the  Academy 
grounds,  where  they  were  greeted  by  Captain  Eberle,  the  superintendent.  The 
day  passed  most  enjoyably  for  the  visitors.  Having  admired  the  spick  and  span 
Academy  literally  from  the  tomb  of  John  Paul  Jones  to  the  top  of  the  highest 
flag  staff,  they  anxiously  inquired  about  West  Point,  its  comparative  beauty,  and 
the  possibility  of  its  being  seen. 

From  the  moment  they  returned  the  salute  of  the  superintendent  on  entering 
until  they  waved  a last  farewell  to  him  they  smiled  and  expressed  the  greatest 
admiration  for  the  institution. 

A company  of  marines,  standing  at  attention,  greeted  the  commissioners  as 
they  stepped  through  the  main  gate,  and  a few  minutes  later,  after  a walk  across 
the  campus,  they  found  more  than  seven  hundred  plebes,  garbed  in  khaki  and 
white  puttees,  stretched  across  Worden  Field  awaiting  review.  With  the  Mission 
and  Captain  Fberle  standing  at  attention,  the  Academy  band  began  playing ' 
“Kimigayo,”  the  Japanese  national  air.  Broad,  appreciative  smiles  played  across 
the  faces  of  the  visitors  as  the  thrilling  air  swept  across  the  field.  The  plebes 
then  executed  a few  evolutions  and  withdrew  amid  applause. 

Thenceforth  the  guests  were  given  the  freedom  of  the  Academy.  The  flag 
room  of  the  library  and  the  armory,  where  target  practice  is  held,  interested 
them  most.  The  many  captured  battle  flags  received  their  attention,  and  explana- 
tion of  target  practice,  including  the  raising  of  “dry”  splashes  in  the  floor, 
moved  the  military  and  naval  officials  of  the  Mission  to  surprised  remarks.  Fvery 
question  they  asked  was  answered  fully,  and  they  asked  many.  At  the  tomb  of 
John  Paul  Jones,  in  the  basement  of  the  chapel,  the  commissioners  stood  about 
in  silence  for  a few  minutes,  and  then  left.  They  also  inspected  a huge  bell 
on  the  campus  which  Commodore  Perry  brought  from  Japan  years  ago. 

Captain  Eberle  and  Mrs.  Eberle  were  hosts  at  luncheon  for  the  distin- 
guished guests  at  the  superintendent’s  quarters. 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


19 


At  Washington’s  Tomb 

For  Sunday,  the  26th,  a touching  ceremony  was  assigned — a visit  to  the 
tomb  and  home  of  Washington  at  Mount  Vernom  The  members  of  the  Jap- 
anese Mission,  with  Secretary'  and  Mrs.  Daniels  as  hosts,  sailed  down  the 
Potomac  on  the  President’s  yacht  Mayflower.  Accompanying  them  were  Am- 
bassador Sato,  Secretaries  Lansing,  Redfield  and  Baker,  Postmaster  General 
Burleson,  Speaker  Clark,  members  of  the  Senate  and  House,  high  officers  of 
the  army,  navy  and  marine  corps,  members  of  the  missions  of  other  European 
countries  and  many  prominent  persons  in  diplomatic  and  official  life. 

Arrived  at  Mount  Vernon  the  distinguished  party  repaired  to  the  simple 
tomb  of  George  Washington,  and  Secretary  Daniels,  uncovering  his  head,  said : 

It  is  not  inappropriate — nay,  I think  it  has  an  historical  significance — 
to  note  that  in  this  pilgrimage  of  our  distinguished  visitors  from  Japan  to 
the  American  Mecca  they  have  come  upon  a ship  of  the  navy  as  the  guests 
of  the  Navy  Department.  The  men  of  the  navy  love  to  recall  that  when 
in  the  early  fifties  it  was  determined  to  send  a mission  to  Japan  to  open 
the  way  for  that  intercourse  which  has  been  mutually  so  agreeable  and 
helpful,  the  diplomatic  duty  was  entrusted  to  a distinguished  naval  officer. 
Commodore  Matthew  Galbraith  Perry,  who  had  won  fame  ashore  and 
afloat.  To  the  courage  of  a naval  officer  he  added  the  accomplishments  of 
a diplomat,  illustrating  again  how  deserved  was  the  praise  of  Lord  Palmer- 
ston, who  said : 

Whenever  I want  a thing  well  done  in  a distant  part  of  the  world, 
when  I want  a man  with  a good  head,  a good  heart,  lots  of  pluck,  and 
tilenty  of  common  sense,  I always  send  for  a captain  in  the  navy. 

Commodore  Perry  was  the  first  to  win  the  confidence  of  the  Japanese 
people  and  Japanese  rulers.  He  lived  before  this  day  of  hurried  calls, 
remained  in  Japan  nearly  three  years,  and  had  time  to  learn  the  worth  of 
the  Japanese  and  to  study  their  customs  and  traditions.  He  remained  long 
enough,  too,  for  the  people  of  Japan  to  learn  from  him  and  his  fellow 
officers,  sailors,  and  marines  the  broad  and  fraternal  spirit  of  the  American 
people  who  did  not  ask  then,  have  not  asked  since,  and  will  never  ask  for 
themselves,  any  right  or  privilege  that  may  not  likewise  be  freely  granted 
to  the  smallest  nation. 

In  1855  the  Perry  treaty  was  ratified,  and  Japan  and  the  United  States 
formed  a friendship  which,  cemented  by  the  treaty  negotiated  for  us  by 
Townsend  Harris,  has  bound  together  with  hooks  of  steel  the  peoples  of 
these  two  great  nations.  July  4 was  established  forever  as  a holy  day  of 
patriotism  for  the  United  States  by  the  victories  of  George  Washington. 
Independence  Day  has  also  a place  in  Japan’s  calendar,  for  it  was  on  July 
4,  1859,  that  the  treaty  providing  for  commerce  between  the  United  States 
and  Japan  became  effective.  Thus  the  American  and  Japanese  diplomats 
strengthened  and  enlarged  the  treaty  secured  by  Commodore  Perry. 


20 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


America  opens  its  hearts  and  homes  to  the  distinguished  members  of 
the  Japanese  Mission,  and  with  a peculiar  sense  of  fitness  in  the  present 
crisis  we  welcome  you  to  the  shrine  of  George  Washington,  the  patron 
saint  of  America,  who  illustrated  those  virtues  of  valor  and  statesmanship 
which  attract  men  of  like  mold  of  every  clime  and  every  nation. 

Today,  with  stronger  ties  than  ever,  woven  out  of  the  threads  of  our 
mutual  participation  in  the  worldwide  struggle  to  insure  to  all  mankind  the 
right  to  live  their  own  lives  and  pursue  their  own  national  ideals,  Japan 
and  America  pause  at  the  tomb  of  Washington,  in  the  hope  that  there  may 
fall  upon  us  all  a double  portion  of  his  spirit  of  faith  in  the  triumph  of 
the  right  and  his  readiness  to  make  the  supreme  sacrifice  for  the  principles 
for  which  America,  Japan,  and  their  allies  are  now  contending  in  the  arena 
of  war.  They  have  drawn  the  sword  to  end  military  feudalism.  They 
will  sheathe  it  only  in  a victory  that  will  guarantee  permanent  peace.  We 
will  follow  in  the  present  war  the  admonition  of  General  Washington,  who, 
bequeathing  to  his  nephew  his  swords,  which  now  hang  in  his  home  at 
Mount  Vernon,  gave  this  counsel : 

These  swords  are  accompanied  with  an  injunction  not  to  unsheathe 
them  for  the  purpose  of  shedding  blood,  except  it  be  for  self-defense 
or  in  the  defense  of  their  country  and  its  rights,  and  in  the  latter  case 
to  keep  them  unsheathed,  and  prefer  falling  xvith  them  in  his  hands  to 
the  relinquishment  thereof. 

It  was  a solemn  moment  when  Viscount  Ishii,  bearing  a great  wreath  of 
roses  and  chrysanthemums,  bowed  reverently  to  the  resting  place  of  the  Father 
of  this  country,  and  said  in  tones  deeply  thrilled  with  emotion : 


In  the  name  of  my  gracious  sovereign,  the  Emperor  of  Japan,  and 
representing  all  the  liberty  loving  people  who  own  his  sway,  I stand  today 
in  this  sacred  presence — not  to  eulogize  the  name  of  Washington,  for  that 
were  presumption — but  to  offer  the  simple  tribute  of  a people’s  reverence 
and  love. 

Washington  was  an  American,  but  America,  great  as  she  is,  powerful 
as  she  is,  certain  as  she  is  of  her  splendid  destiny,  can  lay  no  exclusive 
claim  to  this  immortal  name.  Washington  is  now  a citizen  of  the  world; 
today  he  belongs  to  all  mankind.  And  so  men  come  here  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth  to  honor  his  memory  and  to  reiterate  their  faith  in  the  prin- 
ciples to  which  his  great  life  was  devoted. 

Japan  claims  entrance  to  this  holy  circle.  She  yields  to  none  in  rever- 
ence and  respect ; nor  is  there  any  gulf  between  the  ancient  East  and  the 
new-born  West  too  deep  and  wide  for  the  hearts  and  the  understandings 
of  her  people  to  cross. 

It  is  fitting,  then,  that  men  who  love  liberty  and  justice  better  than 
they  love  life,  that  men  who  know  what  honor  is,  should  seek  this  shrine, 
and  here,  in  the  presence  of  these  sacred  ashes,  rededicate  themselves  to 
the  service  of  humanity. 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


21 


It  is  a fitting  place,  at  this  time  when  all  the  world  is  filled  with  tur- 
moil and  suffering,  for  comrades  in  a holy  cause  to  gather  and  here  renew 
their  fealty  to  a righteous  purpose,  firm  in  the  determination  that  the  strug- 
gle must  go  on  until  the  world  is  free  from  menace  and  aggression.^ 

Japan  is  proud  to  place  herself  beside  her  noble  allies  in  this  high 
resolve,  and  here,  in  the  presence  of  these  deathless  ashes,  she  reaffirms  her 
devotion  to  the  cause  and  the  principles  for  which  they  wage  battle,  fully 
determined  to  do  her  whole  part  in  securing  for  the  world  the  blessings'  of 
liberty,  justice  and  lasting  peace. 

As  the  representative  of  my  people,  then,  I place  this  wreath  upon  the 
tomb  of  Washington  with  reverent  hands,  and  in  so  doing  it  is  my  proud 
privilege  to  again  pledge  my  country  to  those  principles  of  right  and  jus- 
tice which  have  given  immortality  to  the  name  of  Washington. 

As  the  Viscount,  with  a noble  gesture,  laid  the  wreath  upon  the  tomb,  the 
thought  that  the  act  was  indeed  a consecration  of  national  principle  and  a 
pledge  of  the  faith  of  the  two  peoples  found  expression  among  the  onlookers. 

The  mansion  was  thoroughly  and  reverently  inspected  and  the  grounds 
visited  before  the  guests  returned  to  the  Mayflower  for  the  trip  to  Washington. 

Viscount  Ishii  on  His  Mission 

The  American  press,  characteristically  anxious  to  have  the  Japanese  Impe- 
rial Mission  declare  itself  upon  the  war  issues  which  it  would  raise  in  confer- 
ence, sought  some  authoritative  expression.  Viscount  Ishii  gave  the  Associated 
Press  on  Monday,  August  27,  a brief  statement  defining  the  purposes  of  his 
mission  to  the  United  States.  The  statement  says : 

The  Imperial  Japanese  Mission  came  to  the  United  States  for  two 
reasons : 

First,  to  convey  to  the  President  and  to  the  American  people  the  ap- 
preciation and  congratulation  of  the  Emperor  and  the  nation  of  Japan  for 
the  entrance  of  the  United  States  into  the  war  as  allies  of  Japan  and  the 
other  nations  now  waging  war  against  the  enemies  of  freedom. 

Second,  to  determine  how  best  to  cooperate  with  the  United  States  in 
carrying  the  war  to  a triumphant  conclusion. 

Having  determined  in  what  manner  Japan  can  use  her  resources  and 
strength  to  this  end,  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  Mission  further  to  aid  the 
Allied  cause  by  showing  what  she  can  do  with  the  help  and  cooperation  of 
the  United  States.  Japan  is  entirely  unselfish  in  her  aim.  We  are  fighting 
for  a common  end,  and  we  wish  to  aid  the  common  efforts. 

Reception  by  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Mrs.  Lansing 

Invitations  were  pouring  in  upon  the  Mission  for  festal  occasions.  Natu- 
rally the  Mission  felt  itself  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  State  Department,  and 
was  obliged  to  decline  many  tempting  offers  with  regret.  The  garden  party 
given  by  Secretary  Lansing  to  the  Mission  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  28th, 


22 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


however,  compensated  for  many  of  the  entertainments  they  could  not  attend. 
It  can  not  be  better  told  than  as  David  Lawrence  described  it  next  day: 

America  may  have  lavishly  entertained  Marshal  Joffre  and  Arthur 
James  Balfour  and  members  of  other  distinguished  Missions  which  have 
come  to  the  United  States  since  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  but  nothing, 
really  nothing,  compares  with  the  brilliancy  of  the  reception  given  Viscount 
Ishii  and  the  Japanese  Mission. 

Last  night’s  reception  and  garden  party  at  the  Pan  American  Union 
Building,  given  by  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Mrs.  Lansing  and  attended 
by  the  President  and  Mrs.  Wilson,  was  the  most  elaborate  ever  given  in  the 
national  capital.  The  country’s  most  distinguished  society  was  in  attend- 
ance. The  beautiful  Pan  American  Building  was  brilliantly  illuminated 
and  decorated,  and  the  Aztec  Garden  and  Venetian  Pool  of  the  grounds 
were  beautifully  adorned  with  vari-colored  lights  casting  rainbows  across 
the  waters.  The  gardens  were  hung  with  rows  of  Japanese  lanterns.  The 
outside  stairways  from  the  building  to  the  gardens  had  an  artistic  touch  in 
the  green  feathery  foliage,  with  tall  bunches  of  white  hydrangea  in  grace- 
ful baskets  hung  from  the  balustrades.  Small  tables  were  set  on  the  ter- 
race overlooking  the  Aztec  Garden.  A military  band  played.  The  weather 
was  ideal.  Diplomats  of  all  nations,  high  officials,  Senators  and  Represen- 
tatives, members  of  the  numerous  war  boards  and  their  wives,  passed 
through  the  patio  to  the  gardens,  where  supper  was  served. 

The  President  and  Mrs.  Wilson  arrived  about  ten  o’clock.  The  band 
played  the  national  anthem.  The  Presidential  party  flanked  by  military 
and  naval  aides  walked  slowly  through  the  ballroom  to  the  gardens.  Mrs. 
Wilson  was  particularly  handsome  in  a gown  of  black  lace  and  tulle,  re- 
lieved by  a modish  sash  of  orange  tulle  over  one  shoulder  and  fastened  at 
the  waistline  in  a bow.  She  carried  a large  orange  colored  ostrich  feather 
fan. 

The  Japanese  were  delighted  with  the  reception  given  them.  It  was 
by  far  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the  state  functions  given  thus  far  to  the 
foreign  missions. 


At  the  Navy  Yard 

A visit  to  the  Washington  Navy  Yard  by  Vice  /vdmiral  Takeshita,  Major 
General  Sugano,  and  the  other  naval  and  military  members  of  the  Imperial 
IMission,  helped  to  fill  Wednesday,  the  29th.  They  were  escorted  by  high  naval 
officers  and  were  much  interested  in  the  guns  under  construction  and  in  the 
relics  of  naval  wars  of  the  past. 

Before  the  United  States  Senate 

The  visit  to  the  Senate,  which  had  been  arranged  by  Senator  Saulsbury, 
was  scheduled  for  Thursday,  the  30th,  and  became  the  occasion  of  a great 
friendly  demonstration.  The  galleries  were  crowded,  and  few  Senators  were 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


23 


missing  from  their  seats.  The  visitors  were  received  with  great  ceremony. 
They  entered  the  main  door  and  were  escorted  down  the  centre  aisle  while  the 
entire  audience  arose.  The  audience  also  arose  before  and  after  Viscount  Ishii’s 
address,  and  as  the  Mission  left  the  chamber  after  shaking  hands  with  Senators 
and  Representatives. 

Senator  Willard  Saulsbury  of  Delaware,  acting  as  President  pro  tempore 
of  the  Senate,  in  the  absence  of  Vice  President  jMarshall,  received  the  guests, 
conducting  Viscount  Ishii  to  a seat  beside  him  on  the  right  of  the  President 
of  the  Senate,  and  Ambassador  Sato  to  a seat  on  the  left.  There  was  much 
applause  as  Senator  Saulsbury  arose. 

He  said: 


Senators,  we  are  highly  honored  today  by  the  presence  of  these  distin- 
guished guests,  who  come  to  us  representing  the  most  ancient  and  powerful 
Empire  of  the  world.  We  have  met  here  before  and  welcomed  the  distin- 
guished missions  from"  other  great  nations.  Heroic  Belgium,  historic  Italy, 
great  Russia,  beloved  France,  and  democratic  Britain  have  sent  to  us  of 
their  best,  but  to  none  have  we  extended  a more  cordial  welcome  than  today  - 
we  give  to  the  representatives  of  great  Nippon,  that  beautiful  land  of  an- 
cient tradition  and  passionate  patriotism.  T 

A mighty  nation  is  the  ancient  Empire  of  Japan.  Its  youm  renewed, 
it  joins  our  great  young  nation  in  pledging  anew  a continuance  of  our  old 
friendship,  which  the  trouble  maker  of  the  earth  has  tried  so  hard  to  inter- 
rupt. We  now  know  how  industriously  insidious  attempts  have  been  made 
by  the  Prussian  masters  of  the  German  people  to  bring  about  distrust  and 
hatred  in  the  world.  We  know  what  evil  attempts  they  have  made  to 
breed  hatred  and  distrust  of  us  among  our  friends,  and  we  welcome  this 
opportunity  to  heartily  congratulate  our  old  friends  who  honor  us  today 
that  by  the  capture  of  Tsing  Tau  and  the  German  islands  in  the  Pacific 
Japan  has  completely  removed  from  the  far  eastern  world  the  only  threat, 
as  we  believe,  to  peace  and  prosperity,  the  only  threat  to  lasting  peace  in 
eastern  Asia. 

Within  the  memory  of  living  man  Prussians  have  provoked  four  wars 
for  conquest  and  in  three  succeeded.  Their  fourth  attempt  has  roused  the 
world  to  unified,  concerted  action. 

The  yellow  peril  was  made  in  Germany,  and  Shangtung  was  seized; 
the  Slav  peril  was  made  in  Germany,  and  Serbia  was  overwhelmed  and 
Russia  was  invaded;  but  the  thick-witted,  smug,  self-centered  supermen  of 
Germany  entering  their  last  attempt  at  conquest  have  roused  a real  peril — 
a real  peril  to  themselves — and  the  free  nations  that  believe  in  international 
honor,  in  the  binding  force  of  treaties,  and  in  the  pledged  word  are  grimly 
though  so  sorrowfully  engaged  in  creating,  perfecting,  and  bringing  to  suc- 
cessful issue  an  alliance  for  the  benefit  of  all  earth’s  people,  which  will  pro- 
tect the  rights  of  nations,  small  and  great,  and  enable  them  to  lead  their 
lives  in  peace,  and  lead  them  unafraid.  This  alliance  we  and  the  other  free 
nations  of  the  earth  are  creating  to  control  the  disturbers  of  the  peace  of 


24 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


the  world,  and  it  is  now  succeeding.  The  alliance  we  create  is  based  on 
the  brotherhood  of  man,  the  equal  rights  of  men  and  nations.  It  is  based 
on  the  universal  kindly  instincts  of  the  human  heart,  no  matter  whether 
that  heart  beats  in  an  eastern  or  a western  breast,  no  matter  where  free 
men  live,  in  America  or  Asia,  in  South  Africa,  in  Europe,  or  in  South 
America.  The  alliance  we  create  is  directed  against  and  threatens  only 
wrong,  inhumanity,  and  injustice.  It  threatens  only  rapacity,  greed,  hypoc- 
risy, and  nationalized  brutality.  It  threatens  only  military  autocracy  and 
the  violators  of  treaties  who  disregard  the  pledged  honor  of  nations.  Our 
alliance  is  indeed  a peril,  but  only  to  the  new  pirates  of  the  seas,  to  the 
assassins  of  the  air;  to  those  who  violate  international  decency  and  fair 
dealing,  who  misuse  the  forces  of  developed  science  and  distort  the  teach- 
ings of  philosophy,  who  would  destroy  civilization  itself  in  the  effort  to 
accomplish  world  domination. 

This  peril  our  alliance  has  created  is  the  peril  to  the  central  European 
powers,  but  it  bears  no  color  label.  It  is  and  will  be  in  the  future  the 
common  glory  of  all  true  men  of  all  free  nations  everywhere  to  have  joined 
in  its  creatioh  and  success.  It  is  an  Anglo-French-Slav-Italian-Japanese- 
American  peril  to  the  misdemeanant  of  the  world.  Allies  in  east  and  west 
are  joined  together  to  bring  back  lasting  peace  to  a disordered  and  war-sick 
world.  Let  us  renew  our  time  honored  friendship  with  clasped  hands  and 
good  wishes  for  the  peaceful,  friendly  development  of  both  our  nations  and 
assure  poor,  stricken  Europe  that  this  western  Republic  and  eastern  Em- 
pire, together  in  friendly  accord,  will  work  for  the  good  of  all  humanity. 

This  Congress  has  pledged  all  the  resources  of  our  great  country  to 
our  common  cause,  the  curbing  of  international  rapacity  and  hate  and 
barbarism. 

Senators,  I have  never  believed  there  was  more  than  a jingling  rhyme 
in  the  phrase  that  “east  is  east  and  west  is  west  and  never  the  two  shall 
meet,”  and  we  are  happy  today,  while  honoring  our  distinguished  guests,  to 
demonstrate  to  the  world  that  there  is  no  east  and  there  is  no  west  when 
strong  men  come  together  as  friends,  though  they  come  from  the  ends  of 
the  earth,  determined  in  friendly  alliance  to  work  out  right  and  justice  for 
themselves  and  all  earth’s  peoples. 

Let  us  never  permit  hereafter  that  evil  tongues  or  wicked  propaganda 
shall  cause  even  the  simplest  minded  among  our  people  to  forget  the  ancient 
friendship  of  our  nations  or  weaken  the  ties  of  mutual  respect  and  regard 
in  which  we  hold  each  other.  This  meeting  today  symbolizes  complete  in- 
ternational fraternity  which  common  consciousness  of  international  honor 
has  brought  about.  Let  it  be  eternal ! 

I have  the  honor  of  presenting  to  the  Senators  of  the  United  States 
the  most  distinguished  of  our  visitors.  His  Excellency  Viscount  Ishii,  chief 
of  the  Mission  from  Imperial  Japan. 


Viscount  Ishii  arose  and  said: 


Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  no 
words  at  my  command  can  give  adequate  expression  to  the  profound  ap- 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


25 


preciation  I have  of  this  honor  you  confer  upon  us.  We  know  full  well 
the  exalted  dignity  and  the  proud  traditions  of  this  illustrious  branch  of 
the  great  Legislature  of  the  United  States ; and  in  the  name  of  my  coun- 
try, my  Mission,  and  myself,  I thank  you  most  sincerely.  To  accept  your 
courteous  invitation  and  to  occupy  even  the  smallest  fraction  of  the  time 
allowed  for  the  momentous  deliberations  of  this  august  body  is  a great 
responsibility — a responsibility  I do  not  underestimate,  but  from  which  I 
may  not  shrink. 

I shall  not,  however,  abuse  this  rare  privilege  by  attempting  to  address 
at  length,  in  a language  of  which  I have  but  little  command,  trained  leaders 
of  thought  and  masters  of  argument  and  oratory.  But  I grasp  this  occa- 
sion to  say  to  you  that  the  whole  people  of  Japan  heartily  welcome  and 
profoundly  appreciate  the  entrance  of  this  mighty  nation  of  yours  into  the 
struggle  against  the  insane  despoiler  of  our  civilization.  We  all  know  that 
you  did  not  undertake  this  solemn  task  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  but 
that  you  threw  your  mighty  weight  into  the  struggle  only  after  exercising 
a most  admirable  patience,  with  a firm  determination  that  this  world  shall 
be  made  free  from  the  threat  of  aggression  from  the  black  shadow  of  a 
military  despotism  wielded  by  a nation  taught  with  the  mother’s  milk  that 
human  right  must  yield  to  brutal  might.  To  us,  the  fact  that  you  are  now 
on  the  side  of  the  Allies  in  this  titanic  struggle  constitutes  already  a great 
moral  victory  for  our  common  cause,  which  we  believe  to  be  the  cause  of 
right  and  justice,  for  the  strong  as  for  the  weak,  for  the  great  as  for  the 
small. 

We  of  Japan  believe  we  understand  something  of  the  American  ideal 
of  life,  and  we  pay  our  most  profound  respects  to  it.  Jefferson,  your  great 
democratic  President,  conceived  the  ideal  of  an  American  commonwealth 
to  be  not  a rule  imposed  on  the  people  by  force  of  arms,  but  as  a free  ex- 
pression of  the  individual  sentiments  of  that  people.  Jefferson  saw  Amer- 
icans not  as  a set  of  people  huddled  together  under  the  muzzles  of  machine 
guns,  but  he  saw  them  as  a myriad  of  independent  and  free  men,  as  indi- 
viduals only  relying  on  a combined  military  force  for  protection  against 
aggression  from  abroad  or  treachery  from  within.  He  saw  a community 
of  people  guided  by  a community  of  good  thought  and  pure  patriotism, 
using  their  own  special  talents  in  their  own  special  way  under  their  own 
sacred  rooftrees ; not  a machine  made  nation,  but  a living,  growing  organ- 
ism, animated  by  one  passion — the  passion  of  liberty. 

I assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  the  Japanese  ideal  of  national  life  is,  in 
its  final  analysis,  not  so  very  far  removed  from  yours.  We  conceive  of  our 
nation  as  a vast  family,  held  together  not  by  the  arbitrary  force  of  armed 
men,  but  by  the  force  of  a natural  development.  We  shall  call  the  common 
force  that  animates  us  a passion  of  loyalty  to  our  Emperor  and  to  our 
homes,  as  we  shall  call  that  of  Americans  a passion  for  liberty  and  of 
loyalty  to  their  flag. 

Blind  loyalty  without  rational  consciousness  of  the  responsibility  of 
self  is  but  another  name  for  slavery,  while  a right  of  liberty  ill  conceived, 
ignoring  the  mutual  human  affection  and  respect  for  the  rights  of  every 
man,  which  form  the  essence  of  true  loyalty,  must  be  tantamount  to  anarchy. 
These  two  passions — passion  of  loyalty  and  passion  for  liberty — are  they 


26 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


not  really  one?  Is  not  the  same  control  working  in  both  cases — the  intense 
desire  to  be  true  to  our  innermost  selves  and  to  the  highest  and  best  that 
has  been  revealed  to  us?  You  must  be  free  to  be  Americans  and  we  must 
be  free  to  be  Japanese.  But  our  common  enemy  is  not  content  with  this 
freedom  for  the  nation  or  for  the  individual ; he  must  force  all  the  world 
to  be  German,  too!  You  had  hoped  against  hope  that  this  was  not  so; 
but  that  noble  hope  fled  and  your  admirable  patience  was  exhausted.  You 
did  not  then  hesitate  to  face  the  issue  and  the  foe,  as  you  are  facing  it, 
with  that  great  American  spirit  which  has  loved  and  still  loves  liberty,, 
which  loves  the  right  more  than  peace  and  honor  more  than  life. 

We  of  Japan  took  up  arms  against  Germany  because  a solemn  treaty  was 
not  to  us  “a  scrap  of  paper.”  We  did  not  enter  into  this  war  because  we 
had  any  selfish  interest  to  promote  or  any  ill  conceived  ambition  to  gratify. 
We  are  in  the  war,  we  insist  on  being  in  it,  and  we  shall  stay  in  it,  because 
earnestly,  as  a nation  and  as  individuals,  we  believe  in  the  righteousness  of 
the  cause  for  which  we  stand ; because  we  believe  that  only  by  a complete 
victory  for  that  cause  can  there  be  made  a righteous,  honorable,  and  per- 
manent peace,  so  that  this  world  may  be  made  safe  for  all  men  to  live  in 
and  so  that  all  nations  may  work  out  their  destinies  untrammeled  by  fear. 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  whatever  the  critic  half  informed  or  the 
hired  slanderer  may  say  against  us,  in  forming  your  judgment  of  Japan  we 
ask  you  only  to  use  those  splendid  abilities  that  guide  this  great  nation. 
The  criminal  plotter  against  our  good  neighborhood  takes  advantage  of  the 
fact  that  at  this  time  of  the  worjd’s  crisis  many  things  must  of  necessity 
remain  untold  and  unrecorded  in  the  daily  newspapers ; but  we  are  satisfied 
that  we  are  doing  our  best.  In  this  tremendous  work,  as  we  move  together, 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  to  a certain  victory,  America  and  Japan  must  have 
many  things  in  which  the  one  can  help  the  other.  We  have  much  in  com- 
mon and  much  to  do  in  concert.  That  is  the  reason  I have  been  sent  and 
that  is  the  reason  you  have  received  me  here  today. 

I have  an  earnest  and  abiding  faith  that  this  association  of  ours,  this 
proving  of  ourselves  in  the  highest,  most  sacred,  and  most  trying  of  human 
activities — the  armed  vindication  of  right  and  justice — must  bring  us  to  a 
still  closer  concord  and  a deeper  confidence  one  in  the  other,  sealing  for  all 
time  the  bonds  of  cordial  friendship  between  our  two  nations. 

Again  I thank  you. 

Mr.  Saulshury  said : The  special  ambassador  from  Japan  and  the 

Japane.se  ambassador  to  Washington  will  be  glad  to  receive  the  Senators 
and  their  guests  upon  the  floor  as  they  desire  to  be  presented. 

The  members  of  the  Japanese  Mission  took  their  places  at  the  left  of  the 
Vice  President’s  desk,  and  the  members  of  the  Senate  were  presented  to  them 
by  the  committee  appointed  by  the  President  pro  tempore. 

Before  the  House  of  Representatives 

Presentation  to  the  House  of  Representatives  was  reserved  for  the  after- 
noon of  Wednesday,  September  5.  Again  a great  audience  awaited  the  Impe- 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


27 


rial  Mission,  crowding  the  galleries,  the  diplomatic  gallery  notably,  as  well  as 
filling  the  seats  of  the  Representatives.  The  Speaker,  Mr.  Clark,  was  in  the  chair. 
Announcing  a committee  to  wait  on  the  Japanese  commissioners  and  conduct 
them  into  the  hall,  as  consisting  of  Mr.  Flood,  Mr.  Linthicum  and  Mr.  Goodwin 
of  Arkansas,  he  declared  that  the  House  stood  in  recess. 

Almost  immediately  thereafter  the  members  of  the  Japanese  Mission,  es- 
corted by  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Speaker,  entered  the  chamber  and 
were  announced  to  the  House  by  the  Sergeant  at  Arms.  The  members  of  the 
Mission  were:  Viscount  Ishii,  Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary; 
Vice  Admiral  Takeshita,  Imperial  Japanese  Navy;  Major  General  Sugano,  Im- 
perial Japanese  Army ; Mr.  Masanao  Hanihara,  Consul  General  at  San  Fran- 
cisco; Mr.  Matsuzo  Nagai,  Secretary  of  the  Foreign  Office;  Commander  Ando, 
Imperial  Japanese  Navy;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tanikawa,  Imperial  Japanese 
Army;  Mr.  Tadanao  Imai,  Vice  Consul;  and  Mr.  Owaku. 

Mr.  Aimaro  Sato,  Ambassador  from  Japan  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States;  Mr.  Tokichi  Tanaka,  Counselor  of  the  Embassy;  Captain  Nomura,  Naval 
Attache;  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mizumachi,  Military  Attache,  accompanied  the 
Mission  into  the  House,  together  with  Mr.  Breckinridge  Long,  Third  Assistant 
Secretary  of  State;  Brigadier  General  James  A.  Irons,  United  States  Army; 
Captain  C.  C.  Marsh,  United  States  Navy;  and  Mr.  A.  B.  Ruddock,  of  the 
State  Department,  personally  attached  to  Viscount  Ishii. 

Viscount  Ishii  was  seated  on  the  right  of  the  Speaker  and  Ambassador 
Sato  upon  his  left. 

The  Speaker:  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  Japan  is 

one  of  the  oldest  countries  in  the  world,  and  yet  it  is  the  very  newest  of 
the  great  powers  of  the  world.  The  history  of  Japan  extends  back  into 
the  twilight  of  fable.  In  ancient  times  there  were  seven  things  selected 
that  were  denominated  the  wonders  of  the  world.  Nearly  all  of  them  have 
gone.  The  historian  of  the  times  in  which  we  live  will  rank  the  remark- 
able and  astounding  progress  of  the  Empire  of  Japan  as  one  of  the  seven 
wonders  of  these  times. 

The  Empire  of  Japan  is  our  nearest  western  neighbor.  She  holds  one 
side  of  the  Pacific  and  we  hold  the  other,  and  every  right  thinking  man  in 
the  Empire  of  Japan  and  in  the  Republic  of  the  Lffiited  States  hopes  that 
peace,  amity,  and  friendly  relations  will  always  prevail  between  these  two 
great  powers. 

Within  the  last  few  months  we  have  had  visiting  commissions  from 
Erance,  Great  Britain,  Belgium,  Russia,  and  Italy,  and  now  we  have  the 
Japanese  Mission.  I present  to  this  magnificent  audience  Viscount  Ishii, 
the  head  of  the  Mission  from  Japan. 

Viscount  Ishii,  rising  and  bowing,  said : 


28 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Air.  Speaker  and  Alenibers  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  I thank 
you  most  sincerely  for  this  gracious  reception.  The  rare  opportunity  thus 
afforded  to  me  is  deeply  appreciated  throughout  the  nation  I have  the 
honor  to  represent.  I bring  a message,  borne  by  us  across  an  ocean  and  a 
continent,  from  the  Emperor  and  the  people  of  our  beloved  island,  set  in 
the  far  eastern  Pacific,  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  to  you, 
the  representatives  of  the  greatest  republic  on  earth  today,  a potent  factor 
in  the  most  stupendous  and,  we  must  believe,  the  final  struggle  for  liberty 
throughout  the  world. 

Our  message  reiterates  an  assurance  of  unchanged  sincerity  of  friend- 
ship well  understood  by  the  people  of  the  United  States,  but  it  is  a message 
which  has  never  found  opportunity  such  as  this  for  delivery.  Your  cour- 
teous permission  for  us  to  occupy  a place  on  this  historic  rostrum  and  to 
speak  within  the  hearing,  in  fact,  of  the  hundred  millions  of  people  of  the 
Pmited  States  of  America  carries  with  it  a forceful  manifestation  of  the 
sentiment  which  we  believe  the  United  States  entertain  toward  my  country. 

We  would  not  have  traveled  10,000  miles  merely  to  repeat  what  must 
have  sufficiently  impressed  itself  upon  you,  'but  that  within  the  last  few 
months  a new  day  has  dawned — a day  welcomed  indeed  by  us.  It  follows 
upon  another  when  you,  with  magnificent  forbearance,  endured  great  wrongs 
and  outrages  in  the  hope  that  recourse  to  the  sword  might  be  avoided.  It 
was  a day  in  which  you  bore  the  pitiless  cruelty  of  the  wilful  aggressor  of 
all  human  rights — bore  it  bravely  and  with  fortitude  until  the  star  of  hope 
vanished  and  toleration  ceased  to  be  a virtue.  Then,  in  the  dawning  of 
this  day,  you  arose  and  threw  your  mighty  forces  into  the  balance  against 
the  wrong  in  favor  of  the  right.  In  this  dawning  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
flung  across  the  skies  were  entwined  with  the  emblem  of  the  Rising  Sun, 
and  so  commenced  the  brighter  day.  That  is  why  we  are  here.  We  come 
to  bring  to  you  the  message  of  our  Emperor,  which  gives  you  assurance 
of  the  comradeship  and  the  cooperation  of  Japan  throughout  this  day.  We 
are  here  to  say  that,  with  the  other  Allies,  we  heartily  welcome  the  advent 
of  the  United  States  in  the  fields  of  France  and  elsewhere.  We  recognize 
the  great  uplift  given  to  humanity  and  the  promise  of  a physical  victory 
doubly  insured  by  the  most  momentous  decision  you  have  taken. 

We  bring  to  you  assurance  of  support,  unselfish,  without  a motive 
other  than  the  common  force  that  drives  us  all  today.  We  of  Japan  face 
the  task  seriously  and  with  determination.  We  recognize  the  grim  and 
unrelenting  order  we  all  must  obey.  We  know  that  the  desperate  foe  of 
civilization  must  be  met  by  self-sacrifice,  counsel,  and  unsleeping  watchful- 
ness. We  are  here  to  say  that  Japan  has  done  and  will  do  what  may  be 
demanded  of  her  to  the  utmost  of  her  resources  and  to  the  best  of  her 
ability. 

Yours  are  vast  resources ; ours  may  be  small,  but  we  can  say  to  you 
that  the  spirit  of  Japan  burns  as  ardently  and  will  last  as  long  as  may  be 
demanded  in  this  war.  We  are  eager  for  counsel  with  you.  We  come  to 
find  out  how  these  two  nations  can  best  coordinate  their  energies  and  their 
I esources ; how  best  they  can  cooperate  in  the  conduct  and  the  winning  of 
this  war.  We  come  to  say  to  you  that  we  are  proud  on  this  day  to  stand 
shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  soldiers  of  America.  In  the  field  and  in  the 


AT  THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL 


29 


household ; in  the  mine  and  in  the  shop,  the  men  and  the  women  of  Japan 
are  working  and  will  work  with  a greater  confidence  and  a higher  sense  of 
moral  obligation. 

Japan  has  exerted  herself  with  the  spirit  of  loyalty  to  her  allies,  her 
Emperor,  and  to  her  homes,  following  the  ideals  of  our  national  life,  to 
which  I alluded  when  I had  the  honor  of  addressing  your  Senate  a few 
days  ago.  Japan  will  continue  to  add  her  quota  to  the  sacrifice  which  alone 
can  insure  a victory.  Like  the  people  of  America,  those  of  Japan  have 
remained  permanently  independent  because  of  a real  patriotism  which,  when 
the  occasion  demands,  never  fails.  \Ve,  like  you,  protect  ourselves  against 
aggression  from  without  and  treachery  from  within.  We,  like  you,  know 
nothing  of  tyranny  and  despotism ; and  we,  like  you,  stand  determined  thai 
malignance  and  oppression  from  the  conqueror,  imposed  upon  the  con- 
quered, shall  not  become  the  lot  of  our  people.  Neither  shall  our  families 
and  our  homes  be  violated  and  desecrated  by  the  licentious  and  brutal  forces 
of  evil  now  trampling  upon  the  helpless  women  and  children  of  the  coun- 
tries they  have  overrun. 

Treachery  from  within,  indeed,  at  this  hour,  calls  for  our  attention. 
While  your  soldiers  leave  their  families  and  their  homes  to  fight  on  the 
blood  stained  fields  of  France,  we  must  guard  our  landmarks,  as  you  will 
guard  yours,  against  treachery  that  has  found  hiding  places  in  our  midst 
and  which  for  the  last  ten  years  has  sown  the  seeds  of  discord  between  us. 
Let  it  be  a part  of  our  cooperation  and  coordination  to  protect  each  other 
from  these  forces  of  evil  which  lack  even  the  poorest  courage  of  an  open 
enemy. 

Mr.  Speaker  and  gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  we  have 
been  climbing  a mountain  toward  the  stars  by  different  and  sometimes 
devious  pathways,  but  near  the  summit  our  roads  shall  join,  and  together 
we  shall  win  into  the  full  sunlight  above  the  clouds.  We  shall  pass  safely 
through  the  dangerous  places.  Our  blood  shall  not  have  been  shed  and 
our  sacrifice  shall  not  have  been  made  in  vain,  for  we  shall  be  among  the 
nations  of  a world  living  in  a brotherhood  of  peace.  Will  it  not  then  be 
a source  of  intense  national  pride  to  each  of  us  to  remember  this  day  which 
must  insure  a permanent  maintenance  of  these  renewed  pledges  of  com- 
radeship and  of  cooperation? 

I again  wish  to  express  my  sincere  appreciation  of  the  honor  you  have 
done  us. 

The  members  of  the  Mission  then  took  their  places  on  the  right  of  the 
Speaker’s  rostrum,  and  the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  were 
presented  to  them. 

The  distinguished  visitors  were  then  escorted  from  the  hall  of  the  House. 
Every  remark  touching  on  the  friendly  relations  of  the  two  countries,  made 
by  either  the  Speaker,  Mr.  Clark,  or  by  Viscount  Ishii,  precipitated  tremendous 
applause.  One  reference  to  continued  peace  between  the  two  nations  threw  the 
House  into  an  outburst  that  lasted  several  minutes. 

Speaker  Clark’s  declaration  that  the  rise  of  Japan  must  be  considered  one 


30 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


of  the  seven  wonders  of  the  world,  made  some  of  the  Southern  members  so 
enthusiastic  that  they  indulged  in  rebel  yells,  much  to  the  surprise  but  evident 
delight  of  the  commissioners. 

Dinner  at  Graystone 

Mr.  Judah  H.  Sears  of  the  Shipping  Board  entertained  at  dinner  on  the 
evening  of  Friday,  September  11,  at  Graystone,  his  residence  on  Klingle  Road, 
in  compliment  to  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  confreres.  The  dinner  was  served  at 
small  tables  placed  in  the  pergola  and  on  the  terraced  lawn,  which  was  strung 
with  vari-colored  electric  lights,  outlining  trees  and  shrubs  and  making  a net- 
work overhead.  The  Japanese  and  American  flags  and  the  national  colors  of 
Japan  adorned  the  pergola,  where  the  guests  of  honor  were  seated.  In  the 
absence  of  Mrs.  Sears  in  the  Adirondacks,  Mrs.  Peter  Goelet  Gerry,  wife  of 
Senator  Gerry  of  Rhode  Island,  acted  as  hostess.  Informal  dancing  followed 
in  the  drawing  rooms  and  a delightful  musical  program  was  given. 


V 


PHILADELPHIA’S  WELCOME 


The  city  of  Philadelphia  had  the  happy  thought  of  giving  a day  to  the 
Imperial  Japanese  Mission  on  September  15,  and  had  prepared  a train  of  festal 
events,  naturally  beginning  with  a visit  to  Independence  Hall,  the  cradle  of  the 
government  of  the  United  States  and  the  shrine  of  the  Liberty  Bell.  The  train 
bearing  the  visitors  arrived  in  Philadelphia  from  Washington  at  11:36  a.  m. 
They  were  met  at  Broad  Street  Station  by  Mayor  Thomas  B.  Smith  and  a 
reception  committee,  following  which  they  were  escorted  in  automobiles  down 
Chestnut  Street  to  Independence  Hall.  Besides  Viscount  Ishii  there  were 
Ambassador  Sato  and  other  members  of  the  Special  Mission. 

Accompanying  the  Japanese  were  Brigadier  General  James  A.  Irons  and 
Captain  C.  C.  Marshy  United  States  Army;  Breckinridge  Long,  Third  Assistant 
Secretary  of  State,  and  J.  M.  Xye,  of  the  Department  of  State. 

Ambassador  Morris’s  Welcome 

After  a brief  word  of  welcome  from  Mayor  Smith,  Ambassador  Morris, 
the  newly  appointed  United  States  envoy  to  Japan,  was  introduced.  He  said : 

I am  deeply  grateful  to  His  Honor,  the  Mayor,  for  granting  me  the 
privilege  of  thus  supplementing  his  official  welcome.  This  occasion  has,  as 
you  can  realize,  Mr.  Ambassador,  a peculiar  significance  to  me.  I am  so 
proud  to  speak  a word  of  welcome  to  you  and  your  fellow  members  of 
the  Japanese  Imperial  IMission  on  this  spot  which  is  so  rich  in  historic  asso- 
ciations and  which  to  us  is  the  visible  symbol  of  those  ideals  and  aspira- 
tions which  have  been  the  impelling  force  of  our  national  life. 

We  are  standing  on  the  very  spot  where  those  heroic  men  who  laid 
the  enduring  foundations  of  our  federal  government  counseled  together. 
We  feel  that  we  can  catch  something  of  the  vision  of  human  liberty  which 
they  preserved  and  which  they  endeavored  to  express  for  the  guidance 
of  future  generations  in  the  instruments  of  government  which  they  here 
drafted. 

The  men  who  here  declared  this  people’s  independence  and  here  wrought 
out  the  fabric  of  a more  stable  government  had  no  narrow  nor  selfish  pur- 
pose. The  notes  of  the  bell  above  us,  which  was  cast  that  it  might  pro- 
claim liberty  throughout  the  world,  found  responsive  echo  in  the  aspira- 
tions which  they  nourished.  They  were  struggling  to  realize  not  rights 
for  themselves,  but  a heritage  for  the  world ; a heritage  which  should 


32 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


assure  for  all  peoples  the  rights  which  they  claimed  for  themselves — the 
right  of  independent  national  existence ; the  right  to  develop  their  insti- 
tutions as  their  national  spirit  and  traditions  should  dictate  and  save  from 
aggressive  interference  of  ambitious  nations. 

How  seriously  this  heritage  is  now  threatened,  how  ruthlessly  these 
ideals  are  now  challenged,  we  all  profoundly  realize,  as  we  contemplate  the 
fevered  energy  of  all  our  people  as  they  prepare  not  only  to  proclaim  liberty 
throughout  the  world,  but  to  fight  for  liberty  throughout  the  world.  We  are 
proud,  Mr.  Ambassador,  that  we  can  stand  side  by  side  with  your  nation  and 
your  people  in  this  fight;  that  the  friendship  which  has  united  our  countries 
for  so  many  years  can  be  deepened  and  strengthened  by  our  union  in  this 
common  purpose,  and  that  in  this  simple  building  which  is  hallowed  in  our 
hearts  by  the  ideals  of  human  liberty  which  found  expression  here  we  can 
rededicate  ourselves  to  the  preservation  of  this  heritage. 

Viscount  Ishii  arose,  and  with  evident  emotion,  replied: 

Mr.  Mayor:  It  is  with  a sense  not  only  of  great  personal  pride  but 
of  deep  responsibility  that  I stand  on  this  historic  spot  in  this  great  city 
whose  very  name  carries  with  it  the  fundamental  ideal  of  the  highest 
thought  among  all  the  nations  in  the  world  to  make  response  to  a welcome 
to  my  Mission  so  eloquently  voiced  by  one  who  worthily  represents  your 
city  and  your  state.  We  are  glad  that  he  will  represent  your  nation  in 
the  capital  of  Japan.  Let  me  assure  you  that  this  welcome  will  find  re- 
sponse in  the  hearts  of  my  countrymen  when  His  Excellency,  the  Ambas- 
sador of  the  United  States,  arrives  in  Japan,  and  that  we  shall  endeavor 
always  to  demonstrate  by  deeds,  and  not  by  words  so  poorly  at  my  com- 
mand, our  appreciation  of  Philadelphia  and  of  Pennsylvania.  We  already 
owe  much  to  Pennsylvania  men.  Philadelphia  has  placed  us  under  fur- 
ther obligations. 

I am  so  impressed  and  moved  by  these  surroundings,  so  overwhelmed 
by  your  kindness,  that  I am  unable  to  give  expression  to  the  thoughts  which 
must  spring  to  the  mind  of  every  man  who  stands  in  this  hall  under  the 
mantle  and  the  shadow  of  this  great  bell  which  first  summoned  the  spirit  of 
freedom  in  this  republic  and  whose  glorious  tones  have  never  ceased  to 
resound  throughout  civilization. 

I have  tried  to  impress  upon  you  through  your  representatives  in  the 
halls  of  Congress  the  fact  that  in  Japan  the  true  spirit  of  individual  liberty 
and  of  freedom  for  the  nation  burns  as  brightly  as  it  does  in  America.  It 
seems  to  me  that  there  could  be  no  more  fitting  opportunity  than  this  to 
assure  you  that  our  ideals  and  our  hopes  run  alongside  of  yours.  The 
whole  world  answers  the  summons  to  uphold  freedom  and  liberty  from 
oppression  and  from  wrong.  The  force  that  moved  this  great  bell  of  yours 
to  sound  the  alarm  in  1776  is  the  same  human  force  that  brings  the  call 
to  us  today.  It  was  and  is  the  force  that  rings  in  the  right  and  rings  out 
the  wrong.  In  its  tones  there  is  no  discordant  note;  certainly  there  is  no 
lack  of  harmony  as  its  sound  waves  beat  upon  our  shores.  The  purpose 
of  my  Mission  was  and  is  to  tell  you  this  and  only  this — that  we  stand 
with  you  and  will  stand  with  you  throughout  the  struggle  for  liberty  and 


Philadelphia's  welcome 


33 


for  freedom,  and  that  we  will  rejoice  with  you  when  this  bell  shall  again 
ring  the  proclamation  of  a righteous  peace  as  it  rang  one  hundred  and 
thirty-four  years  ago. 

For  myself  and  in  the  name  of  my  Mission  and  my  country  I thank 

you. 

After  leaving  Independence  Hall  the  visitors  rode  north  on  Fifth  Street 
to  Market  and  westward  around  City  Hall  to  Broad  Street.  A detail  of  mounted 
police  and  the  Police  Band  led  the  procession.  Manufacturers  and  business 
men  were  waiting  to  exchange  greetings  with  the  envoys  at  the  Manufac- 
turers’ Club  upon  their  arrival  there  at  one  o’clock. 

Chamber  of  Commerce  Luncheon 

The  local  Japanese  Society  had  joined  with  the  Manufacturers’  Club  in 
according  a reception  to  Viscount  Ishii  and  the  others  of  the  Imperial  Mission. 
At  its  conclusion  the  party  reentered  their  autos  and  were  driven  to  the  Bellevue- 
Stratford  Hotel,  where  a very  large  company  awaited  them.  The  occasion  was 
a luncheon  of  over  three  hundred  covers  tendered  by  the  municipality  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  Vari-colored  Japanese  lanterns, 
with  Japanese  fronded  palms,  and  the  soft  glow  of  subdued  lights  made  a pic- 
turesque setting  for  the  gathering  in  the  large  ballroom.  An  orchestra  behind 
the  palms  played  the  Japanese  national  anthem,  selections  from  the  “Mikado,” 
and  other  music  suggestive  of  the  land  of  sunshine  and  cherry  trees.  Over 
two  hundred  ladies  in  bright  summer  costumes  made  the  balcony  beautiful. 
Mayor  Thomas  B.  Smith  arose,  amid  applause,  and  said : 

We  have  been  greatly  honored  during  the  past  few  months  by  visits 
of  distinguished  delegations  representing  great  foreign  nations — our  allies. 
The  first  of  the  number  was  the  French  Mission,  headed  by  the  eminent 
statesman  and  financier  Viviani  and  the  soldier  idol  of  France,  Marshal 
Joffre.  The  second  was  the  Italian  Mission,  headed  by  the  urbane  Arlotta 
and  the  justly  popular  Marconi,  and  then  followed  the  visit  of  the  Mission 
headed  by  the  sympathetic  Baron  Moncheur  and  the  picturesque  Major 
Le  Qare,  .representing  heroic  little  Belgium. 

As  I said  to  those  splendid  men  so  do  I say  to  our  distinguished  guests 
of  today:  Philadelphia,  the  mother  city  of  the  republic,  welcomes  you  with 
all  her  heart.  While  each  of  the  visits  referred  to — and  this  one  as  well — 
wdll  have  their  place  in  history,  to  me  this  day  has  greater  interest  than 
any  of  the  others,  because  we  are  on  the  eve  of  parting  from  one  of  our 
most  valued  citizens — a man  admired  and  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
He  goes  to  your  fair  land  as  ambassador  of  our  President  to  the  Court  of 
the  Mikado.  I know  I voice  the  sentiments  of  my  fellow  citizens  when 
I express  the  hope  that  the  ambassador  from  this  City  of  Brotherly  Love 
may  develop  during  his  residence  in  Japan  stronger  bonds  of  friendship 
between  our  two  great  nations  than  have  ever  existed  in  times  past. 


34 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Let  us  drink  to  the  health  of  His  Imperial  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of 
Japan.  Glasses  were  lifted  silently. 

Mr.  Ernest  T.  Trigg,  President  of  the  Philadelphia  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
as  toastmaster  now  welcomed  the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission,  and  asked  Am- 
bassador Morris  to  add  a few  thoughts.  Mr.  Morris  said: 

I feel  that  I can  add  nothing  to  the  warm  welcome  which  we  of  Phila- 
delphia have  expressed  to  our  distinguished  guests,  as  voiced  by  His  Honor 
the  Mayor,  and  by  the  President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  I am, 
however,  happy  to  have  this  opportunity  to  express  here  among  my  fellow 
Philadelphians  the  great  satisfaction  it  gives  me  personally  to  join  in  this 
welcome  on  the  eve  of  my  departure  for  Japan,  where  I hope  I may  be  able 
to  convey  to  that  great  and  progressive  people  something  of  that  spirit 
of  friendship  and  admiration  which  has  been  shown  at  this  luncheon. 

I am  particularly  grateful  to  His  Excellency  Viscount  Ishii  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Mission  for  timing  their  visits  so  thoughtfully  that 
their  stay  in  Washington  exactly  corresponded  to  the  period  of  my  instruc- 
tion as  required  by  the  rules  of  our  diplomatic  service.  It  is  seldom  that 
one  starting  on  his  mission  has  such  a rare  opportunity  to  learn  his  first 
lessons  from  instructors  so  experienced  and  so  well  equipped. 

I wish  that  the  Mission  could  have  given  us  more  time  so  that  we 

might  show  them  at  close  range  the  industrial  life  which  is  represented 

here.  But  even  had  they  time  to  look  beyond  this  gathering  and  to  see 

the  varied  activities  which  it  represents,  I fear  they  have  little  to  learn 
from  us.  We  all  know  something  (I  hope  soon  to  know  more)  of  the 
extraordinary  development  of  the  industrial  life  of  Japan,  of  its  civic  spirit, 
and  its  progressive  municipal  governments.  IMy  hope  is,  now  that  our 
two  nations  have  been  bound  together  in  the  great  enterprise  of  this  world 
war,  we  may  from  this  close  association  of  action  develop  a spirit  of  mutual 
understanding  and  cooperation  which  will  knit  us  closely  together  in  the 
far  greater  industrial  and  commercial  enterprises  of  peace.  To  that  end 
I shall  pledge  my  best  efforts  in  the  delightful  task  that  I am  about  to 
undertake. 

Viscount  Ishii  arose  at  a signal  from  the  toastmaster,  and  bowing  to  the 
outburst  of  applause,  at  once  launched  into  his  address,  which  was  frequently 
punctuated  with  handclapping.  He  said : 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  Philadelphia  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce : I am  deeply  moved  by  the  eloquence  of  this  welcome.  This  recep- 
tion and  hospitality  from  the  sons  of  William  Penn  is  not  indeed  unex- 
pected, for  we  know  much  about  you ; but  the  occasion  is  remarkable  and 
most  impressive.  We  are  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  meet  such  a gather- 
ing of  leaders  in  your  commercial  life,  and  at  such  a time,  as  your  guests, 
to  be  given  this  opportunity  to  speed  a parting  son  whom  we,  when  our 
work  here  is  over,  will  meet  again  in  our  own  land  and  to  whom  we  will 
gladly  do  honor. 


Philadelphia's  welcome 


35 


I have  willing  tribute  to  pay  to  Pennsylvania  on  behalf  of  Japan,  and 
this  occasion  only  adds  to  the  obligation  which  I regret  to  say  I can  only 
pay  in  part.  Of  the  many  sons  of  this  good  state  who  have  made  their 
homes  among  us  in  Japan,  none  grew  closer  to  our  hearts  than  your  late 
ambassador,  ^Ir.  George  W.  Guthrie,  whose  untimely  death  was  a loss  to 
your  countr>^  and  to  ours.  We  shall  always  honor  his  memory  as  our 
friend  and  a great  American. 

And  now  another  Pennsylvanian  goes  to  represent  x-\merica  among 
us,  naturally  a source  of  much  gratification.  Be  assured,  Sir,  (turning  to 
Ambassador  Morris)  that  we  shall  endeavor  to  make  your  path  a pleasant 
and  an  easy  one  to  tread.  We  shall  endeavor  to  demonstrate  to  you  that 
Japan  is  your  friend  and  that  the  message  I have  brought  comes  from  the 
hearts  of  my  countrymen. 

In  this  place  and  in  this  distinguished  presence  I can  only  ask  you  to 
recall  the  words  already  spoken  by  me  elsewhere  on  many  occasions,  and 
to  believe  that  they  convey  my  message  and  my  purpose  plainly,  fully  and 
without  reserve. 

Japan  and  America  have  been  the  victims  of  a vicious  campaign  of 
slander  and  intrigue  as  dastardly  and  as  horrible  indeed  as  the  black  record 
of  German  crimes  on  the  Atlantic,  in  Belgium,  or  in  France  can  show. 
But  we  are  wide  awake  now  to  the  danger,  and  in  this  as  in  other  fields  of 
active  warfare  against  our  common  enemy  we  will  in  future  stand  closer 
together  because  of  the  experiences  of  the  past. 

Our  nations  and  their  opportunity  have  met  in  this  solemn  hour,  the 
hour  for  the  real  test  of  friendship.  We  are  linked  together  and  we  will 
fight  together  for  that  liberty,  the  name  and  value  of  which  none  knows 
better  than  the  people  who  claim  the  birthright  of  this  state. 

National  unity  is  always  paramount,  and  international  amity  is  depen- 
dent upon  that  unity  well  conceived.  America  and  Japan,  each  as  a united 
nation,  can  aid  the  other,  and  together  we  can  help  ourselves  and  our 
neighbors  to  better  and  happier  things,  so  that  our  sons  may  dwell  together 
in  peace  insured  by  self-reliance,  mutual  respect  and  perfect  confidence, 
which,  like  the  great  ideal  of  William  Penn,  shall  make  all  mankind  of  kin. 

Mr.  Ambassador,  you  will  permit  me  on  behalf  of  my  ^lission  and 
myself,  to  wish  you  bon  voyage  across  the  ocean,  a pleasant  journey  and  a 
long  stay.  I commend  my  countrymen  to  your  high  consideration,  as  we 
have  ventured  to  commend  you  to  them.  I thank  you. 

As  the  Viscount  closed,  the  guests  arose  in  a body,  applauding  heartily. 
Turning  to  Ambassador  Morris,  the  United  States  army  officers  and  the  hon- 
ored guests.  Viscount  Ishii  proposed  a toast  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 

While  the  orchestra  struck  up  the  “Star  Spangled  Banner,”  a light  was 
thrown  upon  two  small  Japanese  girls  and  a boy  standing  in  the  balcony  over- 
looking the  tables.  The  daughters  of  Nippon  were  dressed  in  the  Japanese 
court  costume  and  the  boy  was  garbed  in  white.  They  sang  the  national  anthem 
and  followed  this  with  “America.” 


36 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Ambassador  Sato  was  now  called  upon  by  the  toastmaster.  He  said : 

Mr.  Mayor,  ladies  and  gentlemen;  Having  been  educated  in  America, 
having  begun  my  diplomatic  career  in  your  beautiful  capital  on  the  bank 
of  the  Potomac,  and  having  had  later  occasion  to  frequently  visit  your 
great  country,  I may  be  allowed  to  say  that  I am  not  altogether  a stranger 
with  the  American  people.  However,  never  before  have  I seen  among 
them  such  show  of  patriotism  and  unity  of  purpose  as  I see  it  now  wher- 
ever I go.  It  is  indeed  an  inspiring  and  soul  stirring  spectacle  that  men 
in  all  walks  of  life  are  cheerfully  and  eagerly  responding  to  the  bugle  call 
of  the  nation.  The  Americans  are  at  their  best. 

I am  especially  happy  to  notice  that  in  these  days  the  bonds  of  friend- 
ship between  our  two  peoples  have  been  strengthened  by  leaps  and  bounds. 
It  is  very  gratifying  that  in  our  international  fellowship  a new  era  of 
mutual  confidence  and  reciprocal  helpfulness  is  dawning.  The  way  the 
Japanese  War  Mission  is  being  received  in  this  country  speaks  more  elo- 
quently than  words  of  the  cordial  sentiment  entertained  in  the  breast 
of  the  American  people  toward  their  western  neighbor  whom  I have  the 
honor  to  represent.  With  this  harmony  within  your  own  borders,  with 
this  harmony  between  our  two  nations,  and  with  the  harmony  existing 
among  the  powers  aligned  on  our  side,  we  are  bound  to  win  the  war.  And 
it  is  a great  satisfaction  to  feel  that  in  this  great  war  we  represent  the 
cause  of  righteousness,  liberty  and  civilization. 

We  are  loath  to  think  of  the  holocaust  of  blood  and  treasure  engulfed 
by  the  dismal  maelstrom.  But  let  it  be,  if  it  must.  We  have  been  and 
are  taking  our  share  of  the  sacrifice  to  the  full  measure  of  ability.  It  now 
requires  merely  coordination  of  our  energy  for  a fatal  blow  to  be  dealt 
upon  our  common  enemy.  We,  who  believe  in  the  bright  golden  future  of 
humanity  where  justice  and  peace  will  reign  supreme,  shall  do  well  to 
stand  ready  to  pay  no  small  price  toward  the  consummation  of  this  sublime 
end. 

It  is  enormously  encouraging  to  perceive  that  the  people  who  are  free, 
' honorable  and  most  peace  loving  are  the  sturdiest  when  they  are  called 
upon  to  vindicate  their  cause  by  recourse  to  arms. 

The  United  States  has  always  fought  its  battles  to  secure  peace  and 
freedom.  Japan  has  always  waged  her  foreign  wars  in  order  to  defend 
her  country  and  people.  And  now,  together,  we  fight  against  a common 
enemy  for  the  cause  of  humanity  and  civilization.  A league  of  peace  loving 
nations,  a concert  of  free  and  honorable  peoples,  is  ensuring  the  victory 
of  the  higher  character  in  humanity,  is  going  to  strengthen  man’s  belief  in 
man’s  real  value.  A dead  Douglas  of  Scotland  won  a battle.  I am  confi- 
dent then  that  the  pealing  of  the  broken  Bell  of  Liberty,  peacefully  resonant 
throughout  the  world,  will  seal  the  fate  of  the  malign  foe  of  humanity  and 
usher  in  the  bright  day  of  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  among  men. 

In  the  evening  the  members  of  the  Mission  were  the  guests  of  Ambassador 
Morris  at  a private  dinner  in  the  Bellevue-Stratford. 


PHILADELPHIA'S  WELCOME 


37 


Symposium  of  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science 

Following  the  ambassador’s  dinner,  the  members  of  the  Mission  attended 
the  symposium  of  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science  in  the 
Witherspoon  Building.  There  was  a large  attendance.  It  was  Ambassador 
l\Iorris  who  once  more  gave  a word  of  introduction  to  the  Mscount  as  follows : 

“From  war,  pestilence  and  famine.  Good  Lord,  deliver  us,”  has  been 
the  pleading  prayer  of  mankind  through  countless  generations.  As  Mr. 
Ralph  A.  Graves  tells  in  a recent  article,  “Grim,  gaunt  and  loathsome,  like 
the  three  fateful  sisters  of  Greek  mytholog}^  war,  famine  and  pestilence 
have  decreed  untimely  death  for  the  hosts  of  the  earth  since  the  beginning 
of  time.”  For  over  three  years  we  have  increasingly  felt  the  baneful  in- 
fluence of  an  all  but  worldwide  war.  Soberly,  earnestly  and  with  no  selfish 
principle,  but  with  undaunted  determination,  our  own  country  has  entered 
this  war  to  make  certain  that  human  liberty  “shall  not  perish  from  the 
earth.”  To  this  cause  we  have  dedicated  without  reservation  our  manhood, 
our  national'  wealth,  and  our  individual  energies.  But  what  of  pestilence 
and  famine  with  which  human  experience  has  linked  war  in  its  trinity  of 
evils  ? 

Modern  science  has  grappled  with  pestilence  and  has  thus  far  gained 
a victory,  which  it  seems  to  me  must  rank  among  the  greatest  achieve- 
ments of  the  human  intellect.  Just  consider  it  a moment.  For  three  years 
millions  of  men  have  been  herded  together  under  conditions  of  living  im- 
possible adequately  to  picture ; have  been  shot  to  pieces  by  bullets,  shat- 
tered by  shrapnel  and  shell,  seared  by  liquid  fire,  and  suffocated  by  poison- 
ous gases ; have  existed  in  narrow  cramping  trenches,  at  times  withered  by 
an  almost  tropical  sun ; at  others,  chilled  to  the  marrow  by  a biting  arctic 
wind ; and  yet,  thus  far  have  been  mercifully  spared  from  the  added  horrors 
of  that  spectre  of  pestilence  which  for  ages  has  haunted  the  imagination 
of  mankind.  As  we  think  on  these  things  may  we  not  reverently  bow  our 
heads  in  gratitude  to  those  heroic  pioneers  of  science  who  in  the  oast  have 
again  given  their  all  that  mankind  might  know  the  secrets  of  disease,  and 
also  to  that  noble  army  of  doctors  (some  from  our  own  city)  who  tonight 
are  holding  at  bay  the  ever  impending  spectre  of  pestilence  which  constantly 
threatens  that  far  flung  battle-line  in  Europe. 

And  famine ! Yes ; it,  too,  threatens  the  world,  and  we  are  here 
tonight  to  take  counsel  once  more  how  this  third  evil  may  be  averted.  To 
the  United  States  of  America  more  than  to  any  other  of  the  Allies  this 
•question  comes  with  impelling  force.  We  have  ever  held  that  this  vast  and 
fertile  land,  developed  by  the  vision  and  energy  of  our  liberty  loving 
pioneers,  is  a sacred  trust  to  be  administered  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 
So,  when  the  test  came  and  our  President  asked  us,  “Are  you  ready,  now 
that  liberty  is  threatened  and  our  brothers  call,  to  make  good  the  unselfish 
professions  of  a century?”  the  answer  came  in  one  great  chorus  from  every 
corner  of  our  land,  “We  are  ready.” 

It  is  because  of  this  response  that  the  wealth  of  our  favored  land  and 
the  manhood  of  our  nation  are  now  dedicated  in  one  supreme  effort  to 


38 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


curb  forever  that  spirit  of  aggression  which  threatens  the  right  of  every 
liberty  loving  nation  to  develop  its  own  traditions  and  conserve  its  own 
national  life. 

We  have  one  great  contribution  to  make  to  this  great  task.  We  must 
conserve,  so  that  we  may  give  freely  of  our  food  resources  to  our  allies 
and  thus  meet  their  pressing  needs.  How  this  may  best  be  done  has  been 
the  central  theme  of  the  conference  now  drawing  to  its  close,  and  we  are 
fortunate  to  have  with  us  distinguished  representatives  of  our  allies  who 
are  here  to  add  their  vital  word  to  this  discussion.  Our  fertile  fields,  our 
natural  resources,  our  comparatively  small  population,  have  all  tended,  I 
fear,  to  make  us  an  extravagant  nation.  No  necessity  up  to  this  moment 
has  forced  us  to  give  due  thought  to  the  needs  of  economy  and  conserva- 
tion. The  problem  is  a new  one  to  us.  We  must  learn  the  lesson;  and 
where  could  we  better  first  turn  for  instruction  than  to  that  Island  Empire 
with  its  experience  of  thousands  of  years,  which  has  learned  through  that 
experience  to  overcome  the  limitations  which  nature  has  imposed  upon  it, 
and  through  economy  and  thrift,  by  the  use  of  every  square  foot  of  avail- 
able land,  and  by  the  saving  of  every  ounce  of  product,  has  reared  a great 
Empire,  developed  a far  reaching  civilization,  and  given  to  the  world  an 
art  and  a literature  which  has  made  a profound  impress  on  the  standards 
of  every  other  nation. 

We  are  so  proud  to  have  with  us  tonight — and  I esteem  it  a peculiar 
privilege  to  present  in  my  home  city — the  distinguished  Ambassador  on 
Special  Mission  from  that  great  nation  to  which  but  recently  I have  had 
the  honor  to  be  accredited.  His  Excellency  Viscount  Ishii. 

The  Viscount  on  rising  received  a warm  round  of  applause,  which  he 
acknowledged  with  a giatified  smile,  and  proceeded : 

Mr.  President,  Your  Excellency,  and  gentlemen:  I am  embarrassed 

by  the  honor  you  have  done  me  in  thus  inviting  me  into  a discussion  inter- 
esting and  of  great  value  to  all  the  world,  but  in  which  my  part  must  be 
little  more  than  a digression.  Nevertheless,  it  would  be  unbecoming  in  me 
should  I fail  to  avail  myself  of  your  courtesy  and  make  an  effort  to  inject 
some  remarks  which  may  perhaps  throw  light  upon  a situation  and  a con- 
dition foreign  to  the  surroundings  in  which  I find  myself.  As  the  repre- 
sentative of  my  Emperor  and  my  countrymen,  I came  to  tell  the  govern- 
ment and  the  people  of  the  United  States  in  all  sincerity  and  earnestness 
that,  in  this  great  and  fearsome  struggle  in  which  we  are  all  engaged,  the 
East  and  the  West  must  meet  and  labor  together  for  the  benefit  of  human- 
ity, and  that  Japan  is  prepared  to  save  and  sacrifice  more  in  order  that  as 
a nation  she  may  live.  We  in  Japan  have  not  been  idle  during  the  heat 
of  the  day  so  far.  In  our  own  small  way  we  have  endeavored  to  do,  and 
we  believe  have  done,  our  best  as  we  saw  what  we  had  to  do.  But  we  do 
not  underestimate  the  further  task  before  us,  and  we  realize  that  the  future 
may  demand  further  self-sacrifice  and  conservation  of  our  resources,  all  for 
the  common  good  in  cooperation  with  our  allies. 

We  have  had  special  opportunity  for  the  last  month  to  see  some- 


Philadelphia’s  welcome 


39 


thing  of  the  vast  machinery  and  resources  at  the  command  of  this  country 
and  to  realize  how  much  from  its  surplus  there  is  to  spare,  and  how  much 
can  be  conserved  as  the  time  of  stress  continues.  America  has  lived  in 
magnificent  luxury.  America  has  had  at  its  command  food  and  raw  ma- 
terial undreamed  of  in  Japan.  Indeed,  you  have  little  idea  how  small  is 
the  margin  between  plenty  and  want  in  the  country  from  which  I come, 
or  how  great  has  been  our  sacrifice  to  the  cause  of  national  existence. 

I have  noticed  while  I have  been  here  discussions  in  the  magazines 
and  newspaper  press  of  this  country  on  the  “vast  increasing  wealth  of 
Japan.”  I am  inclined  to  think  that  these  publicists  really  know  but  little 
of  the  subject  with  which  they  deal.  In  comparison  with  yours,  the  so 
called  “wealth  of  Japan”  sinks  into  insignificance.  The  food  problem  with 
us  is  not  serious,  for  it  is  solved  by  frugality.  It  is  true  that  our  people 
are  not  in  want,  because  their  requirements  are  limited  to  the  barest  neces- 
sities of  life.  We  have  a very  small  area  of  food  producing  country  from 
which  to  draw,  and  by  necessity  every  bit  of  it  is  most  intensively  cultivated. 
The  food  of  our  people  consists  mainly  of  vegetables,  rice,  roots  and  bar- 
ley, grown  in  the  valleys  and  upon  the  hillsides  where  irrigation  can  be 
made  effective,  and  of  the  fish  that  are  drawn  from  the  seas  which  sur- 
round us. 

I will  not  venture  too  far  into  statistics,  for  that  might  be  dangerous ; 
but  I am  convinced  you  would  be  startled  if  I should  show  the  cost  of 
living  in  Japan  compared  with  the  present  cost  of  living  in  America.  Even 
you,  with  your  great  store  of  information,  would  be  astonished  if  I com- 
pared the  bulk  of  our  national  wealth  with  the  bulk  of  the  national  wealth 
of  the  United  States.  A comparison  of  figures  for  1913  shows  that  this 
great  city  of  Philadelphia — the  ninth  in  point  of  importance  in  the  world — 
has  an  annual  industrial  output  doubling  the  total  industrial  output  of  the 
whole  state  of  Japan.  The  United  States  has  a population  approximating 
100,000,000,  and  Japan  has  a population  approximating  60,000,000.  Japan’s 
area  is  considerably  smaller  than  that  of  the  state  of  Texas.  This  alone 
must  open  to  you  a field  for  consideration  of  Japan  and  a ready  answer 
when  you  are  asked  why  Japan  does  not  contribute  more  to  the  war  in 
Europe. 

It  is  only  ten  years  since  we  engaged  in  what  then  was  a great  struggle 
for  a national  existence.  The  figures  representing  our  national  resources 
and  our  national  debt  today  are  very  large  indeed  compared  with  the  facts 
of  our  resources  and  indebtedness  then.  But  to  protect  our  nation  and  our 
people,  to  preserve  that  individuality  as  a nation,  which  all  the  Allied  nations 
are  striving  for  today,  call  for  self-denial  on  the  part  of  our  people  and 
for  a frugality  of  which  most  people  abroad  have  even  now  little  concep- 
tion. The  burden  laid  upon  our  people  is  still  being  patiently  and  patri- 
otically borne.  For  the  last  ten  years  I can  safely  say  that  the  self-sacrifice 
and  the  saving  of  the  great  mass  of  people  of  japan  has  been  a splendid 
tribute  to  the  virtue  and  value  of  patriotism,  a patriotism  so  abundantly 
exhibited  in  the  Allied  countries  today.  We  were  prepared  then,  and  are 
prepared  now.  to  save  and  to  sacrifice  in  the  matter  of  foodstuffs  as  in 


40 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


all  else,  in  order  to  conserve  our  national  forces  and  unite  in  preserving^ 
for  humanity  an  individual  right  to  freedom  and  to  liberty. 

In  the  year  1868  the  total  export  and  import  trade  of  Japan  amounted 
to  a little  more  than  $13,000,000.  In  1877  it  amounted  to  $25,000,000,  and 
in  the  year  1913,  the  last  normal  year  of  trade,  it  amounted  to  about  $600,- 
000,000.  I am  glad  to  say,  and  I think  it  is  a significant  fact  to  relate  here 
to  you,  that  of  this  total  Japan  has  done  more  business  with  the  United 
States  than  she  has  with  any  other  country  in  the  world,  a condition  which 
is  emphasized  more  in  these  abnormal  times  than  it  was  during  the  normal. 
Our  trade  with  the  United  States  in  the  year  1913  amounted  to  about  thirty 
per  cent  of  our  total  foreign  trade.  I am  giving  you  figures,  not  as  pre- 
suming to  inform  you,  but  in  order  that  I may  emphasize,  and  you  may 
consider,  the  resources  of  Japan  when  you  estimate  the  share  we  should 
bear  in  the  future  of  the  food  distribution. 

Permit  me  to  offer  you  again,  and  perhaps  to  bore  you,  with  a further 
statement  which  may  be  illustrative  of  the  resources  of  our  country  at  a. 
time  when  we  are  called  upon  to  contribute  men,  money  and  material  to 
the  winning  of  this  war.  In  1877  the  total  annual  state  revenue  of  Japan 
was  a little  under  $30,000,000,  and  in  1913  the  total  annual  state  revenue  of 
Japan  was  a little  under  $300,000,000.  Not  a very  large  sum  in  the  face 
of  the  thousands  of  millions  you  can  spare. 

Additional  figures  may  again  help  you  to  understand  to  what  extent 
we  are  obliged  to  impose  upon  our  people  a frugality  which  is  borne  with 
a due  sense  of  responsibility  by  the  individual  to  the  state.  In  the  year 
immediately  preceding  the  great  struggle  for  our  national  existence,  the 
amount  of  national  debt  outstanding  was  a little  more  than  $220,000,000. 
In  the  year  immediately  following  peace,  it  was  a little  over  one  thousand 
millions.  Today  our  taxes  are  very  heavy  indeed;  proportionately,  I find, 
as  heavy  as  those  imposed  recently  on  the  people  of  this  country. 

I have  finished  with  the  figures,  and  have  only  injected  them  to  give 
you  a comparative  idea  of  resources.  A like  proportion  would  apply  to 
the  earning  capacity  of  the  laboring  classes  and  the  margin  to  spare  from 
their  earnings.  I assure  you  that  comparison  of  the  earnings  of  our  people 
with  the  earnings  of  your  people  is  staggering,  until  we  realize  the  enor- 
mous difference  in  the  cost  of  living  in  Japan  and  of  living  in  the  United 
States. 

Now,  gentlemen,  you  will  certainly  agree  with  me  that  national  economy, 
which  is  represented  by  the  frugality  of  the  great  mass  of  the  people  and 
not  by  lavish  expenditure  of  a few  individuals,  is  as  essential  to  the  life  of 
a nation  as  is  economy  to  the  existence  or  the  credit  of  a firm  or  indi- 
vidual. Also  you  will  agree  with  me  that  the  figures  representing  the  busi- 
ness of  a nation,  firm  or  individual  during  these  abnormal  times  should  not 
be  taken  into  consideration  or  into  estimation  as  the  normal  resources  on 
which  such  states  or  individuals  may  base  their  present  estimates  for  future 
years. 

The  independence  of  a nation,  as  the  independence  of  an  individual,  is 
measured  by  income,  expenditure  and  indebtedness.  Our  credit  has  been 
created  by  a frugality  of  living  and  a sacrifice  of  the  individual  to  the  state 


philadf.lphia's  welcome 


41 


in  order  that  the  state,  the  nation,  and  the  individual  may  survive.  We  are 
endeavoring  to  conserve  that  credit  so  as  to  insure  our  independence.  At 
the  same  time  we  are  expending,  and  we  are  ready  to  expend,  funds  drawn 
from  a frugal  people  in  a cause  which  means  to  us  the  same  as  it  means 
to  you — a free,  independent  life  for  the  nation  and  for  the  individual. 

At  midnight  the  members  of  the  Imperial  Mission  and  their  escorting 
officials  boarded  their  special  train  for  Newport,  Rhode  Island. 


VI 


AT  COMMODORE  PERRY’S  GRAVE,  NEWPORT,  R.  I. 


Tribute  to  the  American  Who  Opened  Japan  Sixty-four  Years  Ago 

The  object  of  the  journey  to  Newport  was  the  placing  of  a memorial  wreath 
on  the  grave  of  Commodore  Matthew  Galbraith  Perry,  who,  w'ith  an  American 
fleet,  opened  Japan  to  the  world  in  1853.  The  name  of  Perry  is  indeed  something 
to  conjure  with  in  the  Far  East.  Notice  of  the  pious  wish  on  the  part  of  Vis- 
count Ishii  wakened  the  liveliest  pleasure  among  the  Newport  villa  colony.  Ac- 
cordingly, when  the  special  train  conveying  the  Imperial  Mission  party  reached 
Newport  on  Sunday  morning,  the  16th,  several  hundred  persons,  including  a 
highly  representative  committee,  were  on  hand  to  welcome  them.  Of  the  com- 
mittee were  J.  Henry  Reuter,  executive  secretary  to  Governor  R.  Livingston 
Beeckman,  on  behalf  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island;  Mayor  Clark  Burdick,  on 
behalf  of  the  city  of  Newport ; the  commandant  of  the  Second  Naval  District, 
Captain  Henry  F.  Bryan,  U.  S.  N. ; Pay  Director  Livingston  Hunt,  U.  S.  N. ; 
Colonel  Joseph  H.  Willard,  U.  S.  A. ; Commander  Rufus  Z.  Johnston,  U.  S.  N. ; 
Lieutenant  Commander  Herbert  E.  Kays,  U.  S.  N. ; Colonel  Frank  P.  King,  and 
Mr.  Henry  Clews. 

After  witnessing  the  bathing  at  Bailey’s  Beach  the  members  of  the  Mission 
went  to  the  Rocks,  where  they  were  guests  for  luncheon  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clews. 

The  ceremony  at  Commodore  Perry’s  grave  was  set  for  the  afternoon. 
Thousands  flocked  to  the  cemetery  in  anticipation.  The  Mission,  headed  by 
Viscount  Ishii,  entered  the  cemetery  through  a lane  of  apprentice  sea'men  and  a 
battalion  of  Naval  Reserves  standing  at  “present  arms.”  The  gathering  place  was 
in  Perry  Circle,  where  the  Commodore  lies  entombed.  In  addition  to  the  com- 
mittee were  Mrs.  Perry  Belmont,  Bishop  James  Henry  Darlington,  of  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  Miss  Perry,  of  Bristol,  R.  L,  Mr.  August  Belmont.  Mr.  August  Bel- 
mont, Jr.,  Captain  Alexander  Perry,  U.  S.  A.,  and  members  of  the  Board  of 
Aldermen.  All  present  uncovered  while  the  band  from  the  training  station 
played  “Kimigayo,”  and  the  “Star  Spangled  Banner.”  When  the  band  ceased 
and  all  were  in  place,  Bishop  James  De  Wolf  Perry,  of  the  diocese  of  Rhode 
Island,  turning  to  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  party,  said: 


AT  COMMODORE  PERRY’s  GRAVE,  NEWPORT,  R.  I. 


45 


We  have  cherished,  among  other  things,  the  close  ties  that  have  held  us 
together,  bonds  of  friendship  that  have  often  been  put  to  the  test,  but  which 
are  stronger  now  because  they  have  been  put  to  the  test.  You  have  confirmed 
in  the  hearts  of  every  true  American  the  belief  that  the  principles  which  you 
and  America  hold  in  common  will  result  in  an  alliance  that  will  last  for  years, 
to  come.  In  the  alliance  against  the  common  foe  there  will  be  a stronger 
bond,  and  it  gives  promise  of  a lasting  and  glorious  peace. 

The  Bishop  closed  with  a tribute  to  the  Japanese  Emperor  and  to  the  tradi- 
tional hospitality  and  courtesy  of  the  Japanese  nation.  As  he  finished,  Viscount 
Ishii  stepped  forward  and  shook  his  hand  warmly,  with  a few  words  of  appre- 
ciation. 

The  ceremony  of  salutation  was  impressive.  Every  head  was  bare  and 
bowed  as  Viscount  Ishii  stepped  forward  and  placed  on  the  tomb  of  the  Com- 
modore a large  wreath  in  the  Japanese  colors,  white  lilies  and  red  gladioli.  Re- 
tiring backward  a few  paces  the  Viscount  halted,  paused,  made  a profound 
obeisance  to  the  kanii  of  the  departed  Commodore,  and  returned  to  his  place. 
One  by  one  each  member  of  the  Mission  stepped  forward  silently  and  made 
obeisance  before  the  grave.  As  the  last  one  paid  his  tribute.  Bishop  Perry  offered 
a brief  prayer.  Then  the  entire  assembly  stood  at  attention,  while  the  band 
once  more  played  the  Japanese  national  anthem  and  “The  Star  Spangled 
Banner.” 

The  Mission  and  friends  were  now  driven  around  Newport,  visiting  the 
Historical  Society’s  rooms,  where  they  were  shown  Commodore  Perry’s  sword. 
A tea  and  reception  at  the  home  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  Hamilton  Rice, 
where  a large  company  had  assembled,  was  the  next  feature  of  the  day.  A 
dinner  for  some  fifty  persons  was  given  in  the  evening  in  honor  of  the  Mission  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry  Belmont  at  Belcourt,  where  the  Mission  lodged  for  the  night. 

At  a quarter  past  ten  on  Monday  morning  the  Mission  and  escorts  left 
Belcourt  with  Mayor  Clark  Burdick  and  a party  of  prominent  citizens,  and 
proceeded  to  Fort  Adams,  where  the  officers  received  them  most  cordially.  They 
were  given  a glimpse  of  one  of  the  heavy  batteries  at  Fort  Adams  in  mimic 
action,  saw  every  stage  in  the  construction  of  the  torpedoes  at  the  torpedo  station, 
and  were  tendered  a drill  and  review  by  the  brigade  of  apprentice  seamen  at  the 
training  station. 

Reception  and  Addresses  at  the  Casino 

After  the  visit  to  the  fort  they  proceeded  to  a luncheon  at  the  Clambake 
Club,  given  by  the  Mayor.  After  luncheon  the  party  left  for  the  public  reception 
at  the  Newport  Casino,  which  was  filled  by  a large  gathering  of  prominent  citizens 
among  whom  were  Captain  Belmont,  Henry  Clews,  Henry  A.  C.  Taylor  and 
Arthur  Curtis  James,  whose  guests  the  Mission  had  been  during  their  stay. 


44 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


At  the  reception  Viscount  Ishii  said: 

Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen  of  Newport:  The  opportunity  you  have  af- 
forded us  thus  to  visit  and  to  know  you  will  constitute  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  memories  of  our  visit  to  America.  Newport  is  pictured  for  us  as 
the  summer  home  of  all  the  world  of  intellect  and  fashion  from  two  conti- 
nents. Now  we  have  seen  it,  we  are  satisfied  that  Newport  is  a summer 
home,  a winter  home — the  home  of  American  hospitality.  But  above  all 
else,  Newport  is  stored  in  the  mind  of  every  school  child  in  Japan  as  the 
resting  place  of  Commodore  Matthew  Perry. 

Not  so  long  ago  but  that  living  men  can  well  remember  and  tell  it  to 
their  grandchildren,  Japan  lived  in  isolation,  well  contented.  One  day  there 
came  a knocking  at  our  door,  and  looking  forth,  we  saw  strange  sights  in- 
deed. Fantastic  folk,  in  awesome  ships  with  grewsome  guns,  held  out  the 
hand  of  friendship  and  thus  came  America  and  Commodore  Perrj'  to  our 
shores. 

Reluctantly  we  let  you  in,  and  in  time,  with  more  reluctance  still,  we 
ventured  forth  ourselves  on  voyages  of  exploration  to  this  land  of  golden 
dreams.  All  this  was  but  sixty  years  ago.  All  the  world  and  more  par- 
ticularly America  and  Japan  in  these  sixty  years  have  seen  vast  upheavals 
and  vast  changes. 

These  sixty  years  just  passed,  must  constitute  one  full  chapter  in  the 
history  of  Japan.  During  all  that  time  the  Pacific  Ocean,  so  illimitable  then 
to  us,  has  been  growing  more  narrow  daily.  The  East  and  the  West  which 
stood  aloof  without  a thing  in  common  except  their  common  humanity, 
have  by  that  wonderful  thread  been  drawn  closer  and  ever  closer  together, 
until  today  we  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  as  friends  and  allies,  defying  the 
power  or  the  force  of  evil  to  destroy  that  splendid  heritage,  which  we  are 
agreed  to  share  as  common  heirs. 

It  is  a far  cry  from  Newport  to  Tokio,  but  because  of  these  sixty  years 
of  learning  we  have  come  to  recognize  each  others’  voices.  We  know  the 
way  whichever  route  we  take,  and  in  either  home  a hearty  welcome  waits 
the  coming  guest. 

I am  convinced  that  with  the  turning  of  the  page  and  the  opening  of 
this  new  chapter  of  International  History,  and  so,  through  to  the  end  of  all 
time  and  all  chapters,  our  good  understanding  will  increase.  The  road 
between  our  homes  will  become  more  and  more  the  beaten  track  of  neigh- 
bors. I am  more  than  ever  convinced  that  we  have  done  with  the  difficult 
pages  over  which  we  have  labored  in  the  night  of  doubt  and  that  in  the  full 
light  of  honest  purpose,  with  the  eyes  of  faith  and  trust,  we  shall  both,  as 
nations  free,  strong  and  independent,  make  more  frequent  pilgrimages  to 
the  shrines  we  love — you  to  Tokio  where  we  hope  to  bid  vou  welcpme  soon, 
and  we  to  Newport,  whose  beauty  and  wealth  of  hospitality  exceeds  the 
most  vivid  picturings  of  our  imagination. 

Mayor  Burdick  responded  to  these  remarks,  and  introduced  as  the  next 
speaker  Mr.  Henry  Clews  as  one  whose  name  is  as  well  known  among  the  offi- 


AT  COMMODORE  PERRY'S  GRAVE,  NEWPORT,  R.  I. 


45 


cials  and  leading  citizens  of  Japan  as  it  is  in  the  financial  circles  of  America. 
When  the  applause  had  subsided,  Mr.  Clews  said  in  part : 

. , , This  is  certainly  an  eventful  period  in  history,  made  so  by  the 

representatives  of  Japan  decorating  the  grave  of  him  who  played  so  large 
a part  in  bringing  Japan  into  the  group  of  nations,  which  she  had  for  rea- 
sons of  her  own  so  long  excluded  from  her  domain.  Commodore  Perry 
Opened  the  door  which  still  stands  open  to  friends,  and  I am  glad  to  say 
America  and  Japan  are  the  best  of  friends.  . . . 

It  is  a grand  deed  that  helps  to  bring  a nation  out  of  comparative  ob- 
scurity into  the  front  rank  of  nations,  and  although  the  Japanese  can  trace 
events  back  thousands  of  years,  I believe  that  today  they  realize  that  the 
half  century  that  has  elapsed  since  Commodore  Perry  knocked  at  their 
gates  has  been  the  most  important  half  century  in  their  history.  I have 
always  been  deeply  interested  in  Japan,  and  one  of  the  greatest  honors  of 
my  life  was  paid  me  by  the  late  lamented  Prince  Ito,  who  told  me  on  his 
last  visit  to  New  York  on  his  way  to  London  as  special  ambassador  at 
Queen  Victoria’s  Jubilee,  that  he  considered  me  his  “financial  teacher,”  as 
it  was  my  privilege  to  be  of  service  to  the  first  financial  delegation  from 
Japan  to  this  country  forty-six  years  ago,  of  which  committee  Prince  Ito 
was  the  chairman.  I have  met  since  that  time  almost  every  diplomat  and 
man  of  prominence  in  Japan  who  has  visited  our  shores,  and  with  every 
year  my  esteem  and  admiration  for  the  Japanese  have  increased. 

Then,  turning  to  the  members  of  the  Mission,  Mr.  Clews  addressed  them 
in  these  words : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Commission,  as  one  of  a hundred  millions  in  popula- 
tion in  this  country,  I vote  to  you  the  freedom  of  every  city  that  shall  have 
the  good  fortune  to  receive  a visit  from  you. 

After  the  address  of  Mr.  Clews,  the  Mayor  and  the  Mission  stood  in  front 
of  the  stage  and  the  audience  filed  past  and  were  introduced  by  name  to  the 
members  of  the  Mission.  The  entertainment  closed  by  a large  dinner  given  in 
honor  of  the  Mission  by  His  Excellency  Governor  R.  Livingston  Beeckman  at 
his  residence,  and  the  Mission  left  for  Boston  on  the  8 o’clock  train  the  following 
morning. 


VII 


HONORED  GUESTS  OF  BOSTON 


At  the  State  House 

The  ^lission  arrived  in  Boston  on  Tuesday,  the  18th  of  September,  and  was 
welcomed  by  a great  crowd  in  spite  of  a northeast  rainstorm.  Troops,  lined  up 
in  the  South  Station,  stood  at  “present  arms”  while  a band  hailed  the  guests  with 
the  Japanese  national  anthem  as  they  stepped  from  the  train. 

There  was  an  informal  parade  in  automobiles  to  the  State  House,  where  the 
party  was  greeted  by  Governor  McCall.  After  a brief  reception  the  visitors 
went  into  the  hall  where  the  Legislature  was  sitting  to  revise  the  State  Con- 
stitution. 

The  Governor,  in  welcoming  the  Mission  on  behalf  of  the  state,  referred  to 
the  visit  of  Commodore  Perry  to  Japan,  which  opened  the  doors  of  the  Empire 
to  the  rest  of  the  world.  But  it  was  not  all  gain  when  the  Japanese  exchanged 
their  “serene  isolation  for  a restless  and  an  almost  haggard  civilization,”  he  said. 
“The  western  nations  have  apparently  unleashed  forces  which  they  can  not 
control.  Those  portents  of  energy  called  into  being  by  the  inventive  genius  of 
man  have  come  to  threaten  us  with  mastery,  and  we  are  in  danger  of  becoming 
their  victims  and  their  slaves.  Japan  will  far  more  than  repay  any  debt  she  may 
owe  our  western  civilization  if  she  shall  impart  to  it  something  of  her  old  re- 
pose, and  help  subordinate  its  mighty  engines  to  the  use,  and  not  to  the  destruc- 
tion, of  man.” 

Viscount  Ishii  arose  amid  great  applause  to  reply  to  the  introduction  given 
with  such  oratorical  effect.  He  said : 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  convention:  I am  highly  compli- 
mented by  an  invitation  to  address  you  in  this  house,  which  throughout 
your  history  has  rung  with  eloquence  unsurpassed  in  any  tongue;  with  the 
loftiest  appeals  to  the  noblest  sentiments  of  mankind  from  the  lips  of 
patriots  whose  names  are  written  large  on  the  walls  of  the  corridors  of 
fame.  But  it  would  not  become  me  to  occupy  your  time  or  interrupt  momen- 
tous discussions  which  are  of  vital  importance  not  only  to  your  country  but 
to  all  the  world.  Let  me  say,  however,  that  Massachusetts  and  New  En- 
gland are  very  close  to  Japan.  Many  of  our  leading  men  owe  to  these 
surroundings  the  impressions  and  the  education  which  has  enabled  them  to 
take  their  place  in  the  varying  walks  of  life  in  their  home  land.  Next  to  the 
land  of  their  birth,  dear  to  them  above  all  else  on  earth,  they  recall  college 


HONORED  GUESTS  OF  BOSTON 


47 


friends  and  the  happy  days  spent  in  study  and  at  play  at  Cambridge.  These 
always  pay  a tribute  of  affection  to  their  alma  mater  and  take  increasing 
pride  in  the  splendid  record  she  is  making  in  the  upbuilding  of  men  and  a 
nation. 

Massachusetts  and  New  England  have  wielded  a vast  influence  upon 
the  civilization  of  our  time.  In  literature,  art,  science,  and  industry  that 
influence  has  been  felt  and  is  being  exercised  throughout  the  world.  In  all 
of  these  there  has  been  no  narrow'  prejudice,  for  you  have  gathered  from 
and  sent  to  the  furthest  corners  of  the  earth  the  most  representative  and 
best. 

Japan  owes  much  to  Massachusetts  and  to  Boston.  We  have  learned 
from  you  at  home  and  your  men  and  women  have  labored  in  our  midst  un- 
selfishly and  w'ell  to  our  great  advantage. 

In  this  connection  you  will  permit  me  to  pay  a tribute  to  the  memory 
of  a great  New  England  gentleman,  whose  name  is  well  known  to  you,  and 
who  will  by  all  others  from  New  England  or  elsewhere  be  ungrudgingly 
conceded  a premier  place  among  those  who  have  worked  unselfishly  and 
effectively  for  the  betterment  of  mankind.  I refer  to  the  late  Henry  Willard 
Denison,  for  over  thirty  years  the  guide,  the  counselor  and  the  friend  of 
Japan.  He  was  my  friend,  and  I can  not  let  this  opportunity  go  by  with- 
out saying  that  I am  honored  by  the  memory  of  that  friendship.  Not  only 
this,  but  he  was  the  friend  of  Japan ; and  all  Japan,  from  His  Imperial 
Majesty,  the  Emperor,  to  the  least  among  us,  unite  in  paying  tribute  at  his 
resting  place  on  the  hills  above  the  capital  in  Tokio. 

He  was  a great  American  who  typified  America  in  all  his  life  and  who 
has  done  more  than  all  the  rest  of  us  to  weld  the  bonds  that  he  knew  and 
I know  must  bind  us.  Rugged,  strong,  brave  and  independent,  Denison  lived 
and  died  an  American,  and  lived  and  died  his  faith  unfaltering  in  the  future  of 
our  relationship. 

And  now,  gentlemen  of  this  convention,  in  thanking  you  for  your  cour- 
tesy and  your  patience,  permit  me  before  leaving  you  to  your  deliberations 
to  quote  from  an  address  delivered  here  in  Boston  sixty-nine  years  ago, 
an  address  that  must  deeply  impress  itself  on  any  reader  and  on  every  one 
who  seeks,  as  you  and  I and  all  of  us  must,  to  build  our  nations  to  thd 
highest  point  of  national  achievement  and  greatness.  It  was  Charles  Sumner 
who  said — he  may  have  been  speaking  from  this  historic  rostrum; 

The  true  grandeur  of  humanity  is  in  moral  elevation,  sustained 
and  lightened  and  decorated  by  the  intellect  of  man.  The  truest  tokens 
of  this  grandeur  in  a state  are  the  diffusion  of  the  greatest  happiness 
among  the  greatest  number  and  the  passionless  justice  which  controls 
the  relations  of  the  state  to  other  states  and  to  all  the  people  committed 
to  its  charge. 

Applying  this  great  utterance  as  a rule  for  guidance  in  international 
affairs  I can  say  to  you  that  it  fills  the  ideal  of  the  true  spirit  of  Japan  in 
her  dealings  with  you  and  with  the  world.  I thank  you. 


48 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Municipal  Dinner 

In  the  evening  at  the  Copley-Plaza  Hotel  a dinner  of  five  hundred  covers 
was  tendered  by  Mayor  James  M.  Curley  of  Boston  to  Viscount  Ishii  and  the 
Mission.  The  scene  was  memorable  in  its  lights  and  decorations  as  well  as  in 
its  brilliant  company.  The  tables  were  aglitter  with  uniforms,  and  enthusiasm 
was  at  high  level  throughout  the  proceeding. 

His  Honor,  Mayor  Curley,  presided  and  introduced  Viscount  Ishii  as 
follows : 


It  is  an  exceeding  pleasure  to  welcome  to  Boston  the  representatives 
of  the  Yankees  of  the  East  and  to  welcome  them  in  the  home  of  the  Yankees 
of  the  West — America ; to  welcome  them  in  the  place  where  the  mighty 
movement  for  equality  of  opportunity  and  for  liberty  received  its  fruition 
and  an  embodiment  which  will  not  be  stayed  until  the  rights  of  man  super- 
sede the  right  of  kings  the  entire  world  over.  I welcome  you  at  the  most 
crucial  period  in  the  life  of  the  world,  with  the  realization  of  the  importance 
that  attaches  to  your  visit  to  America — with  the  realization  of  the  new  order 
that  has  come  into  the  life  of  America.  America,  by  instinct,  by  desire,  by 
heredity,  is  a peace-loving  nation ; but,  thank  God,  the  day  has  not  yet  come 
in  the  life  of  America  when  peace  rises  superior  to  the  desire  for  national 
honor  in  America.  America  has  been  a participant  in  many  wars,  but  iu 
every  war  into  which  America  has  entered  she  has  entered  with  high  ideals 
and  a pure  purpose,  and  she  has  emerged  at  the  termination  of  the  war  with 
those  ideals  unsullied  and  with  her  purpose  still  pure.  America  in  the 
present  great  crisis  was  desirous  of  pursuing  the  path  of  peace,  and  for 
nearly  three  years,  despite  ignominy,  despite  humiliation,  murder,  rapine  and 
savagery,  she  avoided  the  responsibilities  of  a declaration  of  war  until  such 
time  as  the  national  patience  was  gradually  coming  to  be  regarded  as  national 
cowardice.  And  when  the  war  was  declared  by  the  United  States  it  found, 
not  a divided  nation,  but  a united  people — united  in  the  determination  that 
the  war  should  continue  until  the  policy  of  Woodrow  Wilson  had  been  vin- 
dicated. We  appreciated  the  responsibility  of  America’s  task.  After  the 
declaration  of  war  Americans  opened  their  coffers  and  oversubscribed  the 
Liberty  Loan.  They  gave  to  the  Red  Cross  fund.  They  opened  their 
homes,  and  by  the  acceptance  of  conscription  gave  joyously  to  the  federal 
government  a million  of  their  boys  to  follow  the  enemy,  if  necessary,  to 
Berlin.  In  the  past  Americans  and  Japanese  have  regarded  each  other  with 
suspicion.  But  we  have  listened  to  this  great  representative  of  the  Japanese 
nation.  Viscount  Ishii,  in  his  recent  declaration  at  Washington,  to  the  effect 
that  Japan  is  in  this  war  from  now  until  victory  rests  on  the  colors  of  the 
Allies,  and  that  she  will  continue  in  it  with  the  same  high  resolve  and  with 
only  the  desire  to  work  for  and  serve  humanity  throughout  the  world. 
And  now  in  the  new  spirit  that  permeates  America,  in  the  new  spirit  that 
I sincerely  trust  will  permeate  Japan,  we  meet  on  this  occasion  with  frank- 
ness, with  simplicity,  with  brotherly  feeling,  in  a common  purpose — the 
service  of  humanity.  We  have  appreciation  of  the  power  of  this  Yankee 


HONORED  GUESTS  OF  BOSTON 


49 


nation  of  the  East,  of  their  valor  and  sagacity.  We  have  the  belief,  if  they 
join  in  this  great  task  with  their  whole  heart,  that  when  next  Christmas  Day 
comes  round  there  will  be  peace  on  earth  to  men  of  good  will.  In  thati 
spirit  of  service,  in  that  spirit  of  sacrifice,  in  that  spirit  of  high  achievement 
for  a noble  ideal,  I welcome  in  our  midst  the  representatives  of  the  Japanese 
nation.  I ask  ever)-^  man  here  to  rise  and  drink  a toast  to  the  health  of  the 
Emperor  of  Japan  and  his  able  representatives. 

A hearty  round  of  cheering  was  the  instant  answer  of  the  company  to  this 
toast.  As  the  company  resumed  its  seats.  Viscount  Ishii  arose  and  said: 

Your  Honor,  the  Mayor,  and  gentlemen:  I would  be  a proud  man  in- 
deed had  I the  eloquence  to  fit  this  occasion  or  to  rise  to  the  heights  of  the 
standard  set  by  those  who  in  speech  and  courtesy  have  honored  me  and  the 
members  of  my  Mission  during  our  stay  amongst  you. 

The  burden  of  obligation  laid  upon  us  for  acts  of  unbounded  hospitality 
by  this  great  state  and  by  this  historic  city  of  Boston  is  heavier  by  far  than 
we  can  ever  hope  to  repay. 

You  can  form  no  idea  of  the  pleasure  you  have  given  to  us  or  the 
depth  of  the  impression  you  have  made. 

The  story  of  New  England  is  well  known  to  us.  We  have  learned 
your  splendid  record  of  the  last  three  hundred  years  from  the  pages  of  our 
histories.  We  have  learned  to  read  your  poets,  to  profit  by  your  learning, 
and  to  be  stirred  by  your  unmatched  achievements  in  all  the  arts  and 
sciences,  in  the  struggle  for  independence  and  for  liberty — gems  set  in  the 
laurel  wreaths  upon  the  brow  of  Fame. 

We  are  bound  to  you  by  more  than  these.  We  are  held  to  New  England 
by  the  ties  of  memory  and  honored  friendships.  At  your  fountains  of 
learning  our  sons  have  lain  close  to  the  breast  of  a foster-mother  alongside 
of  the  first-born  and  best  beloved.  At  these  founts  our  sons  have  been  nur- 
tured. They  have  returned  to  us  strong  and  ready  for  the  battle  of  life ; 
equipped  with  the  greatest  gift  with  which  they  could  face  the  future. 
Our  youths  have  worked  and  played  with  yours ; your  men  have  come  to 
us  and  have  given  freely  of  their  abundance;  some  of  them  have  been  our 
fastest  friends — New  England  men,  descendants  of  the  splendid  crew  which 
landed  upon  Plymouth  Rock,  of  the  men  who  fought  and  won  at  Bunker 
Hill,  sacred  in  the  history'  of  human  freedom;  of  the  men  who  lived  and 
labored  with  unsurpassed  endurance,  self-sacrifice  and  devotion ; men  who, 
in  this  day  and  hour,  are  the  models  for  you  as  our  revered  forefathers 
must  be  the  models  for  us. 

These  we  have  in  common.  These  memories,  these  friendships,  these 
obligations,  these  examples  which  can  never  be  ignored ; these  sympathies, 
these  forefathers,  these  mothers  and  foster-mothers,  are  today  great  primal 
influences  which  link  East  to  Wst  and  Japan  to  America.  For  these  and 
many  other  reasons  New  England.  Massachusetts  and  Boston  have  played  a 
large  part  in  bringing  about  a better  understanding.  I feel,  now  that  I have 
traveled  from  your  western  to  your  eastern  shores,  that,  after  all,  there 
iire  no  points  of  dift'erence  between  us  which  can  not  be  settled  as  time  goes 


50 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


by  and  gives  opportunity  for  discussion  between  the  statesmen  of  your 
country  and  my  own.  But  these  questions  do  not  belong  to  the  more  vital 
category  of  the  questions  of  the  present.  The  newer  link  now  added  to  the 
chain  calls  for  our  earnest  attention.  This  link  is  of  tremendous  importance 
to  all  humanity.  It  is  the  link  of  comradeship  in  the  war  which  will  win 
liberty  and  freedom  for  us  and  for  you  as  well  as  for  the  whole  world,  from 
the  enemy  which  has  crept  upon  us  in  the  night  and  menaced  civilization. 
I say  has  menaced,  for  I firmly  believe  that  the  last  danger  of  our  enslave- 
ment passed  into  the  land  of  impossible  things  when  your  great  country 
threw  its  weight  into  the  scale.  Japan  had  no  choice  from  the  outstart. 

We  do  not  enter  into  treaties  to  tear  them  up  and  scatter  them  to  the 
winds.  Our  treaties  are  not  “scraps  of  paper.”  We  have  tried  to  play  our 
part  and  carry  our  share  of  the  burden.  We  have  helped  to  free  the  Pacific 
from  the  ships  and  the  influence  of  the  nation  which  has  thrown  off  its  thin 
covering  of  decency  and  now  stands  revealed  in  all  the  horrid  nakedness 
of  the  savage. 

We  are  in  this  war  with  you  to  win  with  you.  We  are  here  to  cooperate,, 
to  coordinate,  and  to  contribute.  We  have  not  been  surprised  at  what  we 
have  seen  during  this  month  of  our  sojourn  in  America.  We  have  realized 
that  America  has  come  into  her  own,  and  we  congratulate  you,  your  sons 
and  daughters  upon  the  magnificent  exhibition  of  national  union,  national 
devotion,  and  national  greatness  you  are  making. 

Your  Excellency,  Your  Honor,  and  gentlemen,  we  thank  you  more  than, 
any  words  of  mine  can  tell  for  all  you  have  done  for  us  in  the  past  and  on 
the  present  occasion.  For  the  future,  I see  two  nations — the  one  out  yonder 
under  the  Rising  Sun,  the  other,  this  great  union  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
their  flags  entwined,  their  interests  and  their  objects  one,  moving  together 
to  a sure  and  certain  victory  over  all  that  is  evil  and  mean  or  petty ; out  of 
the  clouds  of  suspicion  and  doubt;  out  of  the  valley  of  fear;  into  the  full 
enjoyment  of  the  blessings  of  mutual  confidence,  mutual  respect  and  per- 
manent peace. 

I ask  this  great  company  to  drink  to  the  health  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States. 

Mayor  Curley  then  made  the  following  presentation  speech: 

I now  ask  our  distinguished  guest.  Viscount  Ishii,  to  accept  this  gold 
medal  as  indicative  of  the  new  spirit  which  inspires  Japan  and  the  United 
States  towards  each  other,  as  they  both  kneel  at  the  new  altar  in  the  com- 
mon cause  of  human  liberty.  The  medal  is  inscribed  with  the  following 
words : 

Democracy  under  liberty  seeks  the  freedom  of  the  world. 

On  the  obverse  of  this  medal,  in  the  center,  where  appears  the  sun- 
burst of  Japan,  is  seen  the  torch  of  Liberty,  indicative  of  America’s  pur- 
pose, shining  brightly  through  the  sun  of  Japan.  May  the  intertwining  of 
the  insignia  of  the  two  countries  as  typified  on  this  memorial  ever  sym- 
bolize the  purpose,  aim  and  ideal  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  the 
Empire  of  Japan. 


HONORED  GUESTS  OF  BOSTON 


51 


Viscount  Ishii  arose  and  accepted  the  jewel  case  with  a deep  bow,  and  said: 

I am  deeply  touched  by  this  mark  of  unbounded  hospitality.  I shall 
keep  this  precious  souvenir  as  the  embodiment  of  the  good  will  of  the 
citizens  of  Boston,  now  so  ably  represented  by  your  Mayor,  the  Honorable 
James  M.  Curley. 

Mayor  Curley  called  on  United  States  District  Attorney  George  W.  Anderson 
reply  to  the  toast  of  “the  United  States.”  Mr.  Anderson  said: 

In  responding  for  the  United  States  of  America  I wish  to  say  that  the 
struggle  for  law,  order  and  peace  can  no  longer  be  a merely  national  strug- 
gle. Whether  we  like  it  or  not,  we  are  in  world  politics,  and  only  by  and 
through  them  can  there  be  established,  as  the  President  has  said,  the  con- 
ditions which  will  make  the  world  safe  for  democracy.  We  are  in  world 
politics,  and  my  word  is  the  word  of  our  President  when  I say  that  only 
by  and  through  world  politics  can  we  make  safe  our  own  experiment  in 
democracy.  Great  nations  as  well  as  small  peoples  will  find  that  democracy 
is  the  only  way  in  which  security  and  peace  can  at  last  come  upon  all  the 
earth. 

Mayor  Curley  called  on  Ambassador  Sato,  resident  Japanese  Ambassador. 

Never  before  [replied  Mr.  Sato]  have  I seen  such  demonstrations  of 
patriotism  and  unity  of  purpose  as  I have  seen  in  this  country.  Wherever 
I have  gone  in  the  United  States  I have  witnessed  the  soul  stirring  and  in- 
spiring spectacle  of  men  in  all  ranks  of  life  cheerfully  and  eagerly  respond- 
ing to  the  call  of  the  nation.  In  the  past  few  months  the  bonds  of  friend- 
ship between  America  and  Japan  have  been  strengthened  by  leaps  and 
bounds.  A new  era  of  mutual  confidence  and  reciprocal  trust  is  dawning. 
With  this  harmony  within  your  country  and  between  our  two  countries  and 
among  the  Allies  we  are  bound  to  win  the  war. 

Lieutenant  Governor  Calvin  Coolidge,  representing  Governor  McCall,  said: 

On  behalf  of  the  commonwealth  I welcome  you  here  as  kindred  in  spirit 
to  Americans  and  to  American  ideals.  I extend  to  Viscount  Ishii  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Japanese  Mission,  on  behalf  of  His  Excellency,  the 
Governor,  the  cordial,  deep  abiding  sentiments  and  greetings  of  the  com- 
monwealth and  people  of  Massachusetts. 

Honorable  Samuel  J.  Elder,  called  upon  for  a thought,  replied: 

We  are  of  them  and  they  are  of  us — two  nations  with  ideals  in  com- 
mon, the  ideals  of  progress  and  of  power.  We  are  not  separated.  The  sea 
is  no  longer  a barrier  between  peoples.  It  is  the  highway  by  which  peoples 


52 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


come  into  contact  with  eacli  other.  We  are  side  by  side  and  know  each 
other.  We  are  with  Japan  and  the  Allies  in  this  war.  It  is  a war  for  civiliza- 
tion, because  we  are  imperiled  by  militarism,  and  Japan  is  imperiled.  The 
League  for  Peace  is  prepared  to  fight  for  peace.  It  is  only  by  war  and  by 
the  winning  of  this  war  that  peace  can  be  obtained.  Seventeen  nations  are 
today  leagued — your  nation  and  ours — and  it  is  in  essence  a league  to  en- 
force peace.  This  league  will  last  beyond  this  conflict.  After  peace  has 
been  declared  the  league  will  continue  to  exist  among  the  nations  that  love 
peace.  I believe  in  a permanent  league  to  compel  nations  to  settle  their 
dififerences  by  the  arbitrament  of  law. 


Harvard  University 

A busy  day  opened  for  the  Imperial  Mission  on  Wednesday,  September  19. 
A motor  trip  to  Cambridge  in  the  morning  first  engaged  their  attention.  They 
made  a tour  of  inspection  of  Harvard  University  and  the  Radio  Training  School, 
and  returned  to  Boston  for  luncheon. 


Boston  City  Club  Luncheon 

This  was  an  important  affair  at  the  Poston  City  Club,  to  which  the  Mission 
was  conducted  by  Dr.  Morton  Prince,  chairman  of  the  Reception  Committee. 
A large  company  was  present,  mostly  the  leading  business  men  and  merchants 
of  Boston.  Mr.  James  J.  Starrow,  the  president  of  the  club,  acted  as  toast- 
master. A spirited  address  of  welcome  was  delivered  by  Mayor  James  M. 
Curley,  in  the  course  of  which,  amid  great  applause,  he  presented  Viscount  Ishii 
with  a great  American  flag  as  a souvenir  of  his  visit  to  Boston. 

In  reply  Viscount  Ishii  said: 


Mr.  President  and  members  of  the  City  Club  of  Boston : The  wealth  and 
generosity  of  our  welcome  to  Boston  will  remain  for  all  time  a happy 
memory.  It  is  particularly  impressive  and  gracious  of  you  to  afford  so 
much  valuable  time  to  the  entertainment  of  this  Mission  in  the  midst  of 
activities  unparalleled,  and  in  an  hour  when  your  country  calls — a call  you 
are  answering  with  the  energy  and  determination  characteristic  of  America 
and  Americans. 

We  are  conscious  of  the  fact  that  this  reception  you  have  given  to  us 
is  not  prompted  by  the  formal  obligation  of  host  to  guest.  We  know  the 
broad  and  liberal  spirit  of  Boston  and  New  England.  We  know  that  we 
have  been  bidden  here  as  the  representatives  of  our  nation  to  receive  an 
assurance  that  Boston  and  New  England  in  this,  as  in  all  else,  holds  out 
the  hand  of  friendship  to  those  who  come  to  their  shores  from  far  lands 
bringing  honest  assurance  of  friendship.  In  this  voice  of  New  England, 
we  recognize  the  ring  of  sincerity  which  can  only  be  found  when  friend 
greets  friend.  ' 

The  venomous  gossip  that  has,  for  a decade,  endeavored  to  keep  our 


IJONOKED  GUESTS  OF  BOSTON 


53 


nations  apart,  the  differences  between  us  in  the  past,  the  misunderstandings 
.and  the  misinformation  which  so  easily  find  credence,  have  perhaps  caused 
doubt  and  suspicion  to  influence,  to  some  extent,  the  people  of  your  country 
and  ours ; but  now,  returning  to  our  home  land,  we  can  carry  the  message 
of  absolute  assurance  that  the  true  heart  of  America  has  not  been  reached 
by  the  blight  which  has  menaced  us  both,  and  that  from  now  through  all 
time  Japan  and  America  in  friendly  council  together  will  follow  stead- 
fastly the  path  which  leads  to  the  fair  fields  of  sweet  content,  each  protected 
by,  and  each  protecting,  the  other  from  the  enemy. 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  we  are  together  in  this  great  war  to  win 
freedom  and  to  secure  liberty,  to  give  and  to  take  according  to  our  needs. 
We  are  comrades  and  we  are  partners.  Let  us  see  to  it  that  no  enemy  tongue 
or  intrigue  can  at  any  time  throughout  the  years  do  anything  to  divide  us. 
While  this  war  shall  last,  let  us  cooperate  and  fight  together  as  comrades, 
so  that  afterwards  the  memory  of  what  we  have  together  achieved  may 
stand  forever  to  perpetuate  our  friendship.  And  so  that  from  the  ashes  of 
destruction  may  rise  a saner  and  surer  and  a safer  world. 

On  behalf  of  myself  and  the  members  of  my  Mission  I thank  you 
sincerely. 


Motor  Trip  over  Historic  Ground 

The  managers  of  the  hospitalities  of  the  Boston  part  of  their  journeying 
resolved  that  the  Imperial  Mission  should  enjoy  the  spell  of  delightful  autumn 
weather  to  the  full,  and  so  they  had  an  afternoon  in  automobiles  through  forty 
miles  of  peaceful  countryside  to  the  National  Army  cantonment  at  Ayer,  where 
a great  military  city  has  sprung  up  in  the  wood  and  pastures. 

A troop  of  regular  cavalry  clattered  over  the  road  ahead  of  the  Japanese 
party  to  the  headquarters  of  Major  General  Harry  F.  Hodges.  There  the  com- 
mander of  the  new  Seventy-sixth  Division  led  Viscount  Ishii,  head  of  the 
Mission,  and  Ambassador  Sato  to  his  car  and  escorted  the  party  on  a tour  of 
the  camp.  Here  was  a new  American  army  in  the  making. 

The  Mission  showed  the  keenest  interest  in  the  great  number  of  completed 
structures  from  barracks  to  refrigerating  plant. 

The  run  to  the  camp  was  made  part  of  the  way  over  the  route  taken  by  Paul 
Revere  on  his  memorable  ride,  and  over  the  road  followed  by  the  retreating 
British  troops  as  they  fell  back  before  the  farmers  of  Concord,  Lexington  and 
surrounding  towns. 

At  Lexington  Green,  where  the  thin  line  of  Minute  Men  had  been  drawn 
up,  the  party  stopped  while  Viscount  Ishii  laid  a wreath  on  the  monument, 
erected  in  1779,  to  those  who  fell  in  America’s  first  battle  for  freedom.  Then, 
as  during  the  ceremony  of  paying  tribute  at  the  tomb  of  Commodore  Perry,  at 
Newport,  Viscount  Ishii  retired  a few  paces  and  made  the  profound  Japanese 
obeisance  in  memory  of  dead  heroes.  Each  rnember  of  the  Mission  followed 
with  the  same  salute,  while  a great  crowd  of  townspeople  and  tourists  stood 


54 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


silently  by  with  bared  heads.  The  Japanese  visitors  were  quick  to  appreciate 
and  remark  upon  the  singular  appropriateness  of  the  first  line  of  the  inscription 
on  the  monument — “Sacred  to  Liberty  and  the  Rights  of  Mankind.” 

Continuing  over  the  historic  road  the  party  reached  Concord  and  visited 
the  battle  ground  by  the  old  North  Bridge.  Here  Viscount  Ishii  placed  a wreath 
beside  that  laid  on  the  monument  by  the  Belgian  Commission  a few  weeks  ago. 
All  the  party  listened  attentively  while  Samuel  J.  Elder,  who  represented  the 
United  States  in  the  arbitration  proceedings  with  Great  Britain  at  The  Hague 
over  the  fisheries  question,  told  of  the  battle  of  Concord  and  Lexington. 

Tired,  but  delighted,  the  party  took  train  at  night  for  Washington. 


VIII 


GERMAN  PROPAGANDA  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

AND  JAPAN 


Viscount  Ishii’s  Address  to  the  National  Press  Club  at  Washington  on  Ger- 
many’s Insidious  Endeavors  to  Embroil  the  United  States  and  Japan 

The  return  to  Washington  was  hastened  by  an  engagement  made  earlier  to 
attend  and  address  a reception  of  the  National  Press  Club  on  the  evening  of 
Friday,  September  21.  The  frank  quality  of  the  Envoy’s  talks  at  many  gather- 
ings had  the  effect  of  crowding  the  rooms  with  eager  newspaper  men.  After  the 
many  presentations  and  greetings,  and  after  the  hospitality  of  that  live  organiza- 
tion had  been  duly  honored,  the  president  of  the  club  called  on  Viscount  Ishii 
to  address  the  company,  and  it  may  be  said  that  seldom  has  the  attention  of 
auditors  been  more  intense,  and  more  direct  the  response  of  applause  to  obvious 
hits  in  the  course  of  the  address.  The  Envoy  said : 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  National  Press  Club : 

An  invitation  to  address  the  representatives  of  the  newspaper  press  of 
this  country  is  an  honor  I appreciate  very  much  indeed,  as  well  as  the  very 
great  responsibility  I accepted  with  your  courteous  invitation.  But  to  have 
evaded  the  opportunity  would  have  been  to  shirk  a call  to  duty. 

I will  not  waste  the  opportunity  or  your  time  and  mine  with  idle  words.  I 
am  well  aware  how  narrow  is  the  boundary  line  between  too  much  and  too 
little  talk  to  the  keen  witted,  wise  and  able  journalist  who,  I believe,  always 
seeks  the  truth  and  sometimes  finds  it.  Indeed,  my  friends  have  warned  me 
that  as  the  choice  of  two  evils  lies  before  me  I would  be  wise  to  choose  the 
third  and  not  to  talk  at  all.  Let  me  assure  you  at  the  outset  that  I do  not 
propose  here  to  be  foolish  enough  to  weave  a web  for  your  untangling. 

I welcome  this  opportunity  to  talk  to  you  as  my  friends  under  your  own 
rooftree.  I welcome  it  because  I have  never  before  had  a chance  to  talk  to 
such  a gathering,  and  I welcome  it  because  I believe  you  can  help  me  if  I 
help  you.  I have  had  the  very  distinguished  honor  of  meeting  the  owners 
and  the  representatives  of  many  of  your  leading  newspapers  in  Europe,  in 
America  and  in  my  own  country,  and  let  me  say  that  I not  only  have  the 
most  profound  respect  for  the  noble  calling  you  follow,  but  many  warm  and 
close  friendships  among  you. 

As  you  will  realize,  better  perhaps  than  most  people,  it  would  not  be 
proper  for  me  to  enter  into  a discussion  here  of  the  diplomatic  exchanges 
between  myself  and  the  representatives  of  your  government,  except  to  say 


56 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


to  you  that  we  are  not  here  as  mercenaries  to  barter  or  to  trade  assistance 
for  concession,  or  to  secure  special  privileges  to  the  exclusion  of  others.  It 
should  not  be  necessary  for  me  to  make  reply  to  a suggestion  of  motive  un- 
worthy of  our  nation.  Surely  it  would  be  unbecoming  of  me  to  protest  the 
honesty  of  our  intentions  or  to  suggest  a lack  of  intelligence  on  the  part  of 
those  with  whom  I come  to  confer. 

I am,  however,  justified  in  saying  before  this  body  of  men  who  talk  to 
the  soul  and  the  brains  of  America  that  we  come  as  honest,  sensible  men  to 
confer  with  honest,  sensible  men,  and  we  realize  that  any  invasion  or  attempt 
of  the  one  to  take  advantage  of  the  other  would  be  idle  waste  of  time.  Japan 
and  America  are  allies  in  this  war — we  are  partners.  As  allies,  we  will  win ; 
as  partners,  we  of  Japan  do  not  propose  to  sleep,  nor  do  we  propose  to 
violate  the  ethics  which  must  control  a successful  partnership. 

As  I have  said  before  and  since  my  arrival  in  this  country,  there  is  no 
question  which  can  not  be  solved  by  partners  in  counsel  together.  No  small 
or  selfish  motive  should  find  a chance  to  live  in  the  atmosphere  around  us, 
or  affect  the  policy  we  must  pursue  in  common ; namely,  mutual  forbearance, 
mutual  trust,  complete  national  independence,  and  the  greatest  good  to  the 
greatest  numbers. 

Gentlemen,  you  constitute  one  of  the  greatest  forces  in  civilization.  The 
newspaper  is  one  of  modernity’s  latest  and  greatest  developments.  I am  not 
sure  that  the  common  expression  which  says  that  the  newspaper  is  the 
greatest  influence  in  the  world  is  correct ; but  certainly  you  are  the  only 
means  we  have  of  arriving  at  what  the  world  is  doing,  what  the  world  is 
saying,  and,  generally,  what  the  world  is  thinking.  Your  influence  must  con- 
tinue so  long  as  the  majority  of  newspaper  editors,  correspondents  and  re- 
porters seek  always  and  only  for  the  truth.  But  today  in  all  countries  fraud, 
deception,  treachery  and  all  the  forces  of  evil  are  wearing  disguises  most 
difficult  to  penetrate. 

I deeply  regret  to  say  that  owing  to  this  difficulty  the  newspapers  in 
both  countries,  inadvertently  I believe,  have  delayed  the  inevitable  full  under- 
standing between  America  and  Japan.  I am  quite  confident  that  some  day 
(and  I sincerely  trust  the  day  is  not  far  distant)  the  eyes  of  all  men  who 
honestly  endeavor  to  present  the  truth  will  be  opened,  and  that  the  truth 
about  Japan  and  about  America  will  be  revealed  to  all  the  world.  Y'hen 
that  day  comes  you  and  all  men  will  know  how  cleverly  the  work  of  de- 
ception has  been  carried  on  and  how  long  we  have  listened  to  lies  about  the 
ambitions  and  the  ideals  of  the  East  and  the  Y’est. 

In  my  addresses  delivered  here  and  elsewhere  since  my  arrival  in  this 
country,  I have  made  most  pointed  allusions  to  the  influences  which  have 
kept  our  two  countries  apart.  For  more  than  ten  years  a propaganda  has 
been  carried  on  in  this  country,  in  Japan,  and,  in  fact,  throughout  the  world, 
for  the  one  and  sole  purpose  of  keeping  nations  of  Far  East  and  Far  West  as 
far  apart  as  possible;  to  break  up  existing  treaties  and  understanding:  to 
create  distrust,  suspicion  and  unkindly  feeling  between  neighbors  in  the 
East  and  in  the  W'^est,  and  all  in  order  that  Germany  might  secure  advan- 
tages in  the  confusion.  I do  not  think  that  you,  gentlemen,  in  your  busy 
lives  here  during  the  last  ten  years,  have  given  more  than  passing  attention 
to  developments  in  the  Far  East.  The  well  equipped  agent  of  your  enemy 


GERMAN  PROPAGANDA  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  JAPAN 


57 


and  mine  has  taken  advantage  of  your  preoccupation  or  of  your  kindly  credu- 
lity. For  many  years  his  work  was  easy.  The  world  was  flooded  with  tales 
of  Japan’s  military  aspirations  and  Japan’s  duplicity.  Have  these  been  borne 
out  by  history  ? Even  now  the  German  publicity  agent  whisp>ers  first  in  your 
ear  and  then  in  mine.  His  story  is  specious  and  is  told  in  the  dim  light 
which  falls  upon  sympathetic  pictures  cleverly  painted  by  himself  and  pre- 
sented to  you  and  to  me  in  the  past.  To  the  accompaniment  of  appeals  to 
the  human  heart,  he  tells  to  me  other  stories  of  your  duplicity,  and  to  you  of 
mine. 

For  twelve  years,  gentlemen,  up  to  the  present  time  those  agents  have 
worked  among  us  and  elsewhere  persistently  and  cleverly.  They  have  been 
supplied  with  unlimited  resources.  No  wonder  we  have  been  deceived.  A 
short  time  ago  a bad  blunder  gave  us  a clue.  The  Zimmerman  note  to  Mex- 
ico involving  Japan  was  a blunder.  It  made  such  a noise  that  we  were  dis- 
turbed in  our  slumbers,  and  so  were  you.  This  gave  a check  for  a time,  but 
since  then  the  agents  have  been  hard  at  work.  They  were  at  work  yester- 
day and  they  are  at  work  today.  Every  prejudice,  every  sympathy,  every 
available  argument  has  been  appealed  to  and  used  to  show  to  your  people 
and  to  ours  what  a low,  cunning  enemy  we  have  each  in  the  other,  and  how 
much  dependent  we  are  upon  the  future  friendship,  support  and  good  will  of 
Germany. 

Now,  gentlemen,  you  might  expect  me  to  say  something  about  the  object 
of  my  mission,  in  reply  to  suggestions  made  continually  in  the  newspapers 
who  get  the  truth  from  the  “high  authorities  on  the  Far  East,”  or  “close 
friends  of  the  administration.”  One  might  inquire  from  what  fountainhead 
these  intimate  informations  come.  I have  not  told  anyone  what  I have  said 
in  the  pleasant  conversations  I have  had  with  the  officials  in  Washington, 
and  I do  not  believe  for  a moment  that  the  high  officials  have  told  anyone 
either.  Yet  these  informants  have  the  whole  story  and  tell  you  just  what 
we  are  after.  The  myths  of  “The  Closed  Door” ; “Oppression  and  Robbery 
in  China” ; “Control  of  the  Far  East” ; “An  Asiatic  Monroe  Doctrine” ; “Po- 
litical and  Military  Control  of  all  the  Resources  and  Territory’  of  China” — 
these  are  old,  old  stories.  And  now  we  are  told  that  we  have  come  to  Wash- 
ington when  the  whole  world  is  at  war,  when  all  the  world  is  in  need  of  dis- 
interested friendships,  when  all  civilization  is  menaced,  when  our  fathers 
cry'^  to  us  and  yours  to  you  from  their  resting  places  to  join  hands  and  fight 
for  name  and  honor  and  for  flag.  In  such  an  hour,  at  such  a time,  y’ou  are 
told  that  we  come  here  to  trade ; that  we  come  as  mercenaries,  to  ask  a price 
for  our  assistance  in  this  war. 

Gentlemen,  is  this  a charge  you  want  me  to  answer?  Answer  it  your- 
selves, out  of  y’our  own  honest  men’s  hearts. 

Let  me  tell  you  a little  piece  of  secret  history.  When  it  became  known 
to  us  that  the  American  and  British  governments  were  alike  desirous  of  en- 
tering into  a general  treaty  of  arbitration,  but  that  they  found  the  making  of 
such  a treaty  was  precluded  by  the  terms  of  the  British  alliance  with  Japan 
as  they  then  stood,  it  was  not  with  the  consent  of  Japan,  but  it  was  because 
of  Japan’s  spontaneous  offer  that  the  stipulations  of  the  alliance  were  revised 
so  that  no  obstacle  might  be  put  in  the  way  of  the  proposed  treaty.  As  you 
know,  Article  4 of  the  new  Anglo- Japanese  Treaty  now  in  effect,  excludes 


58 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


the  United  States  from  its  operation.  This  is  a true  account  of  the  genesis 
of  that  clause.  It  was  Japan’s  own  idea,  her  own  contribution  to  the  cause 
of  universal  peace. 

Now  if  Japan  had  the  remotest  intention  of  appealing  to  arms  against 
America,  how  could  she  thus  voluntarily  have  renounced  the  all  important 
cooperation  of  Great  Britain?  It  would  have  been  wildly  quixotic.  Treaties 
are  not  “scraps  of  paper”  to  Great  Britain.  Japan  knew  she  could  rely  on 
Great  Britain  religiously  to  carry  out  her  promise.  It  was  my  good  fortune 
to  be  in  the  Foreign  Office  at  Tokio  at  the  time  of  the  revision  of  the  Treaty 
of  Alliance  with  Great  Britain,  and,  modest  as  was  the  part  I took  therein,  I 
can  give  you  the  personal  and  emphatic  assurance  that  there  was  at  that  time 
no  one  in  the  government  or  among  the  public  of  Japan  opposed  to  the 
terms  of  that  revision. 

There  is,  one  may  surely  be  safe  in  saying,  only  one  way  to  interpret 
this  attitude  of  Japan.  It  is  the  most  signal  proof — if,  indeed,  any  proof  is 
needed — that  to  the  Japanese  government  and  nation  anything  like  armed 
conflict  with  America  is  simply  unthinkable. 

Gentlemen,  in  such  a spirit  we  are  here  now.  In  such  a spirit  I am 
convinced  that  you,  gentlemen,  have  bidden  me  here  as  your  guest.  In  such 
spirit  of  cooperation,  mutual  defense  and  offense  against  evil  and  the  menace 
of  wrong,  let  us  help  one  another  and  move  onward  together  to  the  end  in 
good  understanding  and  peace. 

Progress  of  the  Diplomatic  Conversations 

Succeeding  days  in  Washington  were  largely  devoted  by  the  Imperial  Mis- 
sion to  its  special  business.  No  glint  of  the  nature  or  scope  of  the  conversations 
was  given  to  the  public,  however.  On  September  24  the  Washington  corre- 
spondent of  the  New  York  Times  telegraphed  to  his  paper  that  Secretary  of 
State  Lansing,  in  response  to  inquiries  as  to  the  conferences  between  Viscount 
Ishii  and  himself,  said: 

The  conversations  with  Viscount  Ishii  have  been  of  a most  satisfactory 
character,  and  I think  that  his  visit  to  this  country  has  been  most  helpful  in 
benefiting  the  relations  between  the  two  countries  and  in  strengthening  the 
bonds  of  friendship. 

The  new  American  Ambassador  to  Japan,  Mr.  Morris,  called  on  Viscount 
Ishii  in  the  course  of  the  day.  Mr.  M.  Nagai,  of  the  Japanese  Foreign  Office, 
and  Colonel  Tanikawa,  both  attached  to  the  Mission,  left  on  the  same  evening 
for  Pittsburgh,  where,  as  representatives  of  Viscount  Ishii,  they  placed  a wreath 
on  the  tomb  of  the  late  American  Ambassador  Guthrie. 

On  Wednesday,  September  26,  Viscount  Ishii  called  on  President  Wilson 
at  the  VTiite  House  and  enjoyed  a fairly  long  visit.  It  was  the  Viscount’s  first 
call  since  he  was  formally  received  on  his  arrival  in  the  capital,  and  it  was  really 
his  good-by  visit  to  the  President.  It  was  exceedingly  cordial  on  both  sides. 

The  Imperial  Mission  was  just  then  busy  with  preparations  for  its  trip  to 
New  York. 


IX 


NEW  YORK— I 


Mayor  Mitchel’s  Proclamation 

New  York  was  determined  to  set  its  best  foot  forward  in  its  reception  of 
the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission.  IMayor  John  Purroy  Mitchel,  under  date  of  Sep- 
tember 26,  issued  a proclamation  as  follows : 

The  Island  Empire,  whose  seclusion  of  three  centuries  was  broken  by 
the  bearer  of  a letter  from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  sends  us  today 
a return  message  proclaiming  its  people  as  brothers  in  arms  in  the  common 
cause  of  human  freedom.  One  of  the  momentous  events  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  the  appearance  of  the  fleet  commanded  by  Commodore  Periy"  in 
Japanese  waters,  finds  thus  its  sequel  in  what  will  be  reckoned  not  the  least 
notable  incident  in  the  inspiring  time  in  which  we  live. 

This  visit  of  the  representatives  of  our  great  Pacific  neighbor  and  ally 
gives  to  the  citizens  of  New  York  the  occasion  and  opportunity  to  manifest 
that  open  hearted  and  cordial  appreciation  they  feel  of  the  message  that 
comes  to  them  from  the  Far  East,  and  to  express  in  becoming  form  their 
sense  of  the  nobility  of  spirit  and  purpose  of  the  government  of  which  our 
distinguished  guests  are  the  selected  representatives. 

Wherefore,  I,  John  Purroy  Mitchel,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York, 
do  hereby  direct  that  the  flag  of  our  ally,  Japan,  be  flown  upon  the  public 
buildings  of  the  city  throughout  the  visit  of  its  guests,  and  I call  upon  the 
people  of  the  city  to  celebrate  this  occasion  for  the  closer  cementing  of  the 
traditional  friendship  between  this  nation  and  Japan  by  a befitting  decora- 
tion and  illumination  of  their  buildings,  displaying  therefrom  beside  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  the  national  colors  of  Japan  and  the  nations  with  whom 
both  are  allied. 

Vigorous  were  the  efforts  made  to  beautify  Fifth  Avenue  and  other  principal 
streets  with  decorations  pleasing  and  significant  to  the  visitors.  From  every 
lamp  post  standard  the  Rising  Sun  flag  of  Japan  flew  beside  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 
The  flags  of  France,  Britain  and  Italy  were  grouped,  too,  on  all  sides.  The  effect 
of  the  red  and  white  in  the  decorations  was  most  inspiring.  Transparencies  bear- 
ing the  American  and  Japanese  colors  were  suspended  about  the  avenue  arc  lights 
to  be  illuminated  after  dark.  Decorators  were  at  work  on  the  City  Hall,  making 
the  open  space  before  it  into  a Court  of  Honor.  A large  and  efficient  reception 
committee  under  the  chairmanship  of  Judge  Elbert  H.  Gary,  busied  itself  with 


% 


60 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


preparations.  The  Judge’s  residence,  856  Fifth  Avenue,  near  67th  Street,  was 
tendered  to  the  visitors  during  their  stay.  A full  and  formidable  program  was 
arranged. 


Parade  and  Reception  at  the  City  Hall 

Promptly  at  the  appointed  hour,  3.45  p.m.,  the  official  barge — in  this  instance 
the  trim  police  boat  Patrol — gay  with  vari-colored  bunting,  bearing  the  Imperial 
Japanese  Mission  to  New  York,  touched  shore  at  the  Battery,  Judge  Gary  and  ' 
Theodore  Rousseau,  the  Mayor’s  secretary,  having  previously  joined  the  party 
from  Y'ashington  at  Communipaw. 

Instantly  the  great  crowd  massed  around  Battery  Park  raised  its  salute  of 
cheers.  The  band  of  the  Recruit,  the  navy  enlistment  vessel  in  Union  Square, 
played  the  Japanese  national  anthem.  The  Second  Battalion  of  Naval  Reserv'es, 
smart  young  fellows  in  their  service  duck,  stood  at  attention.  Two  troops  of 
Squadron  A,  commanded  by  Major  William  Wright,  flashed  out  their  sabres. 

From  the  windows  of  the  tall  buildings  overlooking  the  plaza  Japanese 
flags,  big  and  little,  broke  out  and  fluttered  gayly.  Some  of  these  flags  were  of 
hasty  manufacture.  Girls  with  a knack  for  ready  invention  had  pinned  red 
disks  in  the  center  of  office  towels  and  were  shaking  them  energetically.  As  the 
Naval  Reserve  band  played  the  Japanese  national  anthem  the  civilians  of  the 
Mission  stood  with  bared  heads,  the  military  officers  with  hands  at  precise  salute. 

Escorted  by  General  Irons,  General  Appleton,  Judge  Gary  and  Dock  Com- 
missioner R.  A.  C.  Smith,  the  members  of  the  Mission  reviewed  the  battalion 
of  naval  reserves  and  then  entered  motor  cars  for  the  parade  north  in  Broadway 
to  the  City  Hall.  At  3.45  p.m.  the  procession  moved,  led  by  a detail  of  mounted 
policemen  and  by  two  companies  of  the  Twenty-second  Infantry. 

For  the  ten  minutes  required  to  reach  the  City  Hall  plaza  the  air  rever- 
berated with  cheers.  Ticker  tape  in  long,  fluttering  streamers  snaked  from  the 
upper  stories  of  the  tall  buildings.  One  such  streamer  caught  and  held  upon  a 
pinnacle  of  old  Trinity.  Confetti  descended  in  colorful  showers.  The  side- 
walks were  solidly  jammed. 

All  Broadway  was  bright  with  the  national  colors  of  Japan,  the  crimson 
sun  upon  its  field  of  white,  or  the  man-of-war  flag  with  the  crimson  sun  and 
sunrays  upon  their  white  field.  Wherever  one  glanced  the  sun  flag  swayed  in 
the  breeze  alongside  the  colors  of  the  Western  Allies.  A particularly  beautiful 
display  was  made  at  the  building  of  the  American  Express  Company,  where 
four  gigantic  flags  of  Great  Britain,  France,  Russia  and  Japan  showed  their 
silken  folds  under  an  immense  flag  of  the  United  States. 

Smiling  and  bowing  his  appreciation  of  the  cheering  and  of  the  decora- 
tions, Viscount  IshH,  who  led  the  motor  car  parade,  accompanied  by  Mayor 


NEW  YORK 


61 


Mitchel,  Judge  Gary  and  Theodore  Rousseau,  arose  from  time  to  time  and  kept 
a neat  footing  in  the  rather  jerkily  moving  car.  Occasionally  he  glimpsed  groups 
of  his  countrymen  leaning  from  windows,  and  to  these  he  waived  special 
greetings. 

In  the  second  car  were  Aimaro  Sato,  Japanese  Ambassador  to  the  United 
States;  Breckinridge  Long,  Alton  B.  Parker,  George  T.  Wilson,  and  H.  A. 
Watkins.  In  the  third  car  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita  rode  with  August  Belmont, 
Marcus  M.  Marks  and  Captain  W.  W.  Phelps,  U.  S.  N.  In  the  fourth  car  was 
Major  General  Sugano  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Army,  with  Brigadier  General 
Irons,  Rear  Admiral  Usher,  Adjutant  General  Sherrill  and  E.  H.  Outerbridge. 

The  fifth  car  accommodated  Masanao  Hanihara.  Japanese  consul  general 
at  San  Francisco ; T.  Imai,  vice  consul  at  Honolulu ; Bonn  Barber,  and  Lindsay 
Russell.  In  the  sixth  car  were  Matsuzo  Nagai,  secretary  of  the  Japanese  Foreign 
Office ; Henry  S.  Thompson  and  Timothy  Healy. 

The  following  cars  carried  Commander  M.  Ando,  Lieutenant  Colonel  S. 
Tanikawa,  Samuel  W.  Fairchild,  Franklin  O.  Brown,  William  Fellowes  Morgan, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Mizumachi,  A.  B.  Ruddock  of  the  State  Department,  Martin 
W.  Littleton,  Commander  Viscount  Hotta,  E.  Nuida,  Walter  W.  Price,  C.  Yada, 
consul  general  at  New  York ; Oswald  G.  Villard,  K.  Owaku,  secretary  to  the 
Mission;  John  Russell  Kennedy,  Hunter  Wykes  and  George  Featherstone. 

As  the  motor  cars  arrived  on  the  west  side  of  the  City  Hall  plaza  the 
Japanese  guests  found  two  troops  of  Squadron  A drawn  up  at  the  west  curb  of 
Broadway,  their  sabres  at  salute.  As  the  cars  turned  east  into  the  plaza  prepara- 
tory to  stopping  at  the  steps  of  the  City  Hall  the  commissioners  fairly  rose  to 
the  picturesque  charm  and  vocal  acclaim  of  the  multitude  before  them. 

The  plaza  was  a picture.  Outside  the  official  participants  and  lines  of 
police,  every  available  inch  was  packed  with  shouting  humanity.  As  part  of 
the  tableau  were  six  thousand  children  from  the  public  schools,  mostly  down- 
town, each  waving  a yellow  chrysanthemum  or  a little  Japanese  flag.  Opposite 
the  steps  of  the  portico  a pyramid  of  Boy  Scouts  towered  above  the  fountain, 
while  one  thousand  members  of  the  American  Junior  Naval  and  Marine  Scouts, 
commanded  by  Major  Daniel  AI.  Bedell,  in  their  white  uniforms  and  red  dotted 
Japanese  flags,  made  a striking  picture  on  the  City  Hall  steps.  A solid  back- 
ground for  all  this  parade  of  the  joy  of  youth  were  six  companies  of  the  22d 
Infantry  from  Governor’s  Island,  three  companies  from  the  Electrical  Naval 
School,  and  two  companies  from  U.  S.  S.  Recruit.  It  made,  all  told,  a splendid 
living  picture,  and  as  the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission  reached  the  steps  of  the 
portico  they  were  fain  to  turn  and  snatch  a smiling  glance  at  the  enthusiastic 
kaleidoscopic  scene.  Nine  Japanese  boys  belonging  to  the  Boy  Scouts  greeted 
the  envoy  at  the  head  of  the  steps. 


62 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


The  visitors  were  escorted  to  the  Aldermanic  Chamber,  where  the  members 
of  the  Mayor’s  committee  who  had  not  gone  to  the  Battery  were  assembled  to 
receive  them.  They  packed  the  gallery  as  well  as  the  floor  space  of  the  chamber. 
Viscount  Ishii  and  Aimaro  Sato,  the  Japanese  Ambassador,  took  places  on  the 
dais,  facing  the  Mayor  and  citizens  of  New  York. 

With  a ring  of  earnestness  in  his  voice  Mayor  Mitchel  spoke  the  first  public 
words  of  welcome  to  the  Mission: 

Your  Excellency,  Viscount  Ishii,  and  gentlemen  of  the  Commission: 

In  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  city  of  New  York  I bid  you  welcome. 
To  the  salutation  of  the  nation  spoken  at  the  capital  by  President  Wilson, 
to  the  reception  tendered  you  by  each  community  of  our  broad  land  which 
you  have  honored  by  a visit.  New  York  now  adds  her  cordial  greeting.  The 
people  of  New  York  rejoice  in  this  opportunity  to  honor  you,  the  distin- 
guished commissioners  sent  us  by  Japan,  and  through  you  to  offer  the  tribute 
of  our  respect  and  the  assurance  of  our  cordial  regard  to  the  mighty  nation 
which  you  represent.  You  have  traveled  across  our  continent  from  the  far 
Pacific  coast ; you  have  seen  the  vast  expanses  of  our  country ; you  have 
visited  our  cities ; you  have  met  countless  thousands  of  Americans ; every- 
where you  have  experienced  the  warm  friendship  of  America  for  Japan ; 
nowhere  is  that  friendship  stronger  than  here  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Vast  in  size,  complex  in  her  activities,  democratic  in  her  institutions, 
progressive  in  her  government,  alert,  prosperous,  constructive,  drawing  her 
population  from  every  race  and  country  of  the  earth,  intensely  loyal  to  the 
ideals  of  America,  patriotic  to  the  core.  New  York  is  in  herself  an  epitome 
of  American  life.  In  the  expression  of  American  opinion,  New  York 
speaks  with  authority  and  in  the  tones  of  six  million  citizens.  The  greeting 
and  the  welcome  which  are  yours  today  come  from  the  hearts  of  the  people 
of  this  mighty  city  and  are  spoken  through  us,  their  representatives,  by  six 
million  Americans,  who  hail  Japan  as  a trusted  friend,  whose  friendship 
has  remained  unbroken,  as  a valued  ally  embarked  with  us  in  a common 
righteous  cause. 

Gentlemen  of  Japan,  permit  me  to  present  to  you  the  representatives  of 
the  city  government,  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Estimate,  the  governing 
body  of  the  city,  the  president  and  members  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  the 
city's  local  legislature,  the  commissioners  of  the  administrative  departments, 
these  distinguished  guests  who  have  come  as  a mark  of  their  esteem  for 
you,  among  whom  are  the  Brigadier  General  Commanding  the  Department 
of  the  East,  the  Rear  Admiral  Commanding  the  United  States  Navy  Yard, 
and  many  officers  of  the  army  and  navy. 

Permit  me  also  to  present  to  you  this  great  and  representative  com- 
mittee of  citizens  which  I have  appointed  to  greet  you  on  behalf  of  all  the 
people  of  New  York.  Here  are  represented  the  business,  the  commerce, 
the  social  life,  the  labor,  and  the  learning  of  New  York,  all  the  elements 
of  our  population,  all  the  factors  of  our  progress  and  our  life.  They  are 
here  to  evidence  the  esteem  in  which  the  people  of  New  York  hold  the 
people  of  Japan,  and  you,  their  distinguished  representatives. 


NEW  YORK 


63 


Gentlemen  of  the  Commission,  Japan  and  the  United  States  today  are 
allies.  Bound  together  by  the  ties  of  a common  interest,  inspired  by  a lofty 
ideal  of  international  justice,  actuated  by  the  same  purpose  to  secure  for  all 
nations,  small  and  great,  the  opporfunity  to  pursue  their  destiny  and  solve 
their  own  domestic  problems  under  the  genius  of  self-imposed  institutions 
of  government,  imperial  Japan  and  democratic  America  are  federated  in  the 
brotherhood  of  allied  nations  to  make  safe  the  world  not  alone  for  democ- 
racy, but  for  all  peace  loving  peoples,  who,  recognizing  the  sanctity  of 
treaties,  the  authority  of  law,  the  principles  of  justice  and  of  right,  desire  to 
live  in  amity  with  their  neighbors,  secure  against  the  shocks  of  brutal  force 
or  the  onslaughts  of  autocratic  conquest. 

America,  sirs,  rejoices  in  the  progress  and  achievements  of  Japan.  She 
looks  back  to  the  days  of  Perry,  and  reminds  herself  with  keen  satisfaction 
that  her  own  enterprise,  her  own  progress,  her  own  science,  crafts  and 
learning  gave  no  small  impetus  to  the  marvelous  development  of  your  great 
nation.  The  progress  and  achievements  of  Japan  have  sprung  from  the 
labor  and  the  genius  of  the  people  of  Japan,  but  America,  as  the  friend  and 
admirer  of  Japan,  prides  herself  that  she  contributed  something  of  the  in- 
spiration that  stimulated  that  effect  and  that  genius  to  their  marvelous  ac- 
complishment. 

Gentlemen  of  Japan,  as  allies  we  hail  you;  as  historic  friends  we  greet 
you ; as  brothers  in  arms  we  pledge  you  our  cooperation  in  our  commort 
undertaking  for  the  welfare  of  mankind. 

Out  of  this  visit  of  your  distinguished  Commission  let  there  grow  a 
still  better  understanding  between  our  peoples,  a warmer,  deeper  friendship, 
an  unshakable,  determination  that  our  friendship  shall  remain  forever  un- 
broken, firm  and  cordial. 

Mayor  Mitchel  then  introduced  Judge  Gary  as  the  chairman  of  the  Citizens’ 
Committee  appointed  to  welcome  the  Mission.  Judge  Gary  said: 

The  citizens  of  this  great  metropolis  associate  themselves  with  the  sen- 
timents of  esteem,  amity  and  good  wishes  entertained  generally  by  the 
people  of  these  United  States  toward  the  people  of  Japan. 

We  extend  to  the  honorable  guests  on  this  occasion  a hearty  and  a cor- 
dial welcome.  We  tender  a hospitality  which  is  unlimited  so  far  as  dispo- 
sition and  desire  control. 

We  offer  assurance  that  every  word  of  friendship  and  confidence  ut- 
tered by  these  visitors  since  they  have  arrived  as  guests  of  the  nation  5s 
appreciated ; that  every  act  of  kindly  regard  on  their  part  is  prized  and,  so 
far  as  possible,  will  be  reciprocated. 

We  salute  them  as  typical  representatives  of  a mighty  Empire  whose 
abiding  good  will  and  whose  cooperation  in  every  worthy  cause  of  mutual 
concern  we  covet. 

Gentlemen  of  Japan,  you  appear  among  us  under  the  most  distressing 
international  conditions.  The  god  of  war,  for  the  moment,  controls  and  is 
shaping  the  destinies  of  nations.  The  atmosphere  of  the  world  is  charged 
with  the  currents  of  animosity,  of  strife,  of  destruction,  of  greed.  The 


I 


64 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


leading  nations  are  engaged  in  the  bloodiest  and  most  destructive  of  all 
wars.  Most  of  them  have  been  forced  into  participation;  they  would  have 
stood  aloof  if  consistent  with  honor  and  with  safety. 

Both  Japan  and  the  United  Stales  have  every  reason  to  regret  the  com- 
mencement and  the  continuance  of  this  horror  of  horrors.  They  ardently 
hope  for  the  early  establishment  of  peace  on  a basis  honorable  and  lasting. 
Neither  can  obtain  comfort  from  a consideration  of  the  contest  except  in 
the  thought  that  it  is  in  no  respect  responsible  for  its  precipitation  and  in 
the  belief  that  it  may  be  of  substantial  assistance  in  securing  a speedy 
termination. 

Your  countrymen  and  ours  are  alike  in  respect  to  their  love  of  peace, 
their  abhorrence  of  war.  They  would  endure  much  and  they  would  suffer 
long  before  they  would  enter  the  arena  of  military  conflict.  But  those  who 
are  possessed  of  this  character  and  inclination  are  the  most  terrible  when 
driven  to  the  point  of  battle  in  defense  of  life,  property,  honor  or  other 
sacred  right.  When  fully  aroused  to  the  necessity  of  physical  combat  they 
are  superlatively  stubborn,  vigorous  and  effective. 

We  insist  our  ideas  are  the  antitheses  of  those  entertained  by  the  Im- 
perial Government  of  Germany.  If  we  may  rely  upon  the  writings  of  lead- 
ing men  and  the  reported  performances  of  the  soldiers,  apparently  approved 
by  the  government,  the  rulers  of  the  German  Empire  advocate  the  doctrine 
that  any  aspiration  may  properly  be  realized  by  the  exercise  of  physical 
power — that  might  makes  right.  On  the  contrary,  we  believe  we  are  not 
justified  in  seeking  to  acquire  anything  we  desire  or  need  unless  the  same 
is  supported  by  the  fundamental  principles  of  right  and  justice. 

Germany  proclaims  that  she  is  fighting  for  her  life.  This  is  true  only 
in  the  sense  that  a bandit  is  fighting  for  his  life  when  suddenly  overtaken 
in  the  attempt  to  appropriate  the  property  and  destroy  the  life  of  a law 
abiding  citizen.  Late  developments  furnish  evidence  that  the  Imperial  Gov- 
ernment of  Germany  for  a considerable  period  preceding  the  war,  was  con- 
spiring to  violate  the  rights  of  weak  and  inoffensive  nations.  The  tyranny 
of  this  enemy  of  civilization  is  to  be  dreaded  by  the  smaller  nations ; but 
we  have  no  fears  for  we  are  right  and  we  are  strong. 

We  do  not  overlook  nor  minimize  the  fact  that  we  are  confronted  by  a 
long,  stubborn,  systematized  struggle,  supported  by  years  of  study  and 
preparation.  The  enemy  is  in  possession  of  territory  and  property  and 
routes  which,  if  retained,  would  be  more  than  .satisfactory;  and  with  ex- 
isting equipment  and  strength  these  positions,  or  a substantial  part,  may  be 
for  some  time  successfully  defended  against  a powerful  offensive.  How- 
ever, if  each  one  of  the  Allies  exerts  itself  to  the  utmost,  patiently  but  per- 
sistently and  continuously,  the  opposing  armies  will,  in  due  course,  be  over- 
whelmed and  conquered. 

Of  the  full  part  the  Japanese  are  intending  to  contribute  to  the  present 
war  they  alone  are  competent  to  declare.  It  is  certain  they  will  do  their 
duty  in  accordance  with  the  traditions  of  their  race ; and  it  is  equally  sure 
they  will  fight  to  the  last  dollar  and  to  the  last  available  man  before  they 
will  submit  to  the  arbitrary  and  cruel  dominance  of  the  Prussians. 

As  to  the  United  States  of  America,  she  is  keenly  alive  to  the  situa- 


NEW  YORK 


65 


tion.  She  was  compelled  to  take  up  arms  as  a matter  of  principle.  Shei 
demands  the  freedom  and  safety  of  the  high  seas ; the  right  on  the  part  of 
all  unprovoking  people  and  countries  to  live  in  peace,  unmolested  and  un- 
afraid; and  the  firm  establishment  of  a basis  for  a comprehensive,  certain 
and  speedy  settlement  of  all  international  disputes  in  accordance  with  the 
rules  of  exact  justice. 

And  the  United  States  will  measure  up  to  all  her  obligations  in  this 
international  crisis.  She  is  mobilizing  all  the  resources  of  the  country  for 
war  purposes.  She  can.  within  three  or  four  years,  furnish  fifteen  million 
men,  well  trained  and  fully  equipped  for  battle ; and  she  can,  within  the 
same  time,  provide  one  hundred  billion  dollars  without  crippling  her  finan- 
cial strength  or  interrupting  her  industrial  progress.  If  necessary,  she  will 
do  both.  Yes,  and  more. 

We  do  not  boast  of  this.  Y'e  have  no  lives  to  spare,  no  money  to  waste. 
We  would  conserve  life  and  property  whenever  possible  within  the  limits  of 
duty  and  propriety.  But  we  are  happy  that,  at  this  particular  time,  we  can 
be  of  substantial  aid  in  defense  of  principles  which  lie  at  the  foundation  of 
civilization  and  moral  progress.  \Ye  are  serious  and  sorrowful ; yet  we  are 
determined  and  we  are  not  despondent.  And  we  are  a united  people,  almost 
without  exception  supporting  the  President  in  the  endeavor  to  administer 
the  affairs  of  government  creditably  and  impartially.  If  there  are  any 
Americans  who,  in  these  days  of  trouble  and  peril,  are  not  entirely  loyal  to 
our  country,  or  are  failing  to  support  the  President  and  his  administration, 
heart  and  soul,  such  recalcitrant  individuals  are  and  for  all  time  will  be, 
throughout  the  land,  the  objects  of  pity  and  contempt. 

The  citizens  of  New  York  promise  that  they  will  abundantly  fulfil 
their  duty  to  their  country  and  her  allies  in  the  pending  struggle  for  the 
recognition  and  permanent  adoption  of  the  principles  involved. 

These  are  eventful  months  in  the  history  of  Japan  and  of  the  United 
States.  The  visit  of  the  eminent  men,  whom  His  Alajesty  the  Emperor  has 
commissioned  to  speak  for  his  government,  is  fraught  with  possibilities  no 
one  can  forecast.  The  Far  East  and  the  Far  West  have  come  together  to 
consider  their  mutual  welfare  and  obligations,  to  speak  frankly  and  freely, 
to  listen  with  attentive  ears  and  receptive  minds. 

The  questions  of  first  importance  relate  to  the  war  and  the  methods  for 
securing  the  earliest  victory  for  the  Allies.  A comprehensive  consideration 
and  the  ultimate  disposition  of  many  other  subjects  necessarily  must  be  post- 
poned to  another  time  and  place ; for  there  are  involved  many  national  and 
international  problems  and  many  interests.  Still  at  present  there  have  been 
and  will  be,  naturally,  conversations  concerning  the  intimacy  which  exists 
and  must  continue  to  exist  between  the  two  countries.  W e are  near  neigh- 
bors and  coming  nearer  by  reason  of  increasing  swiftness  in  the  transfer  of 
thought  and  person  and  property.  Y’e  are  separated  only  by  the  sea  and 
that  is  free  and  open ; and,  practically  speaking,  the  distance  is  growing 
shorter.  As  close  companions  every  instinct  prompts  us  to  live  and  act  in 
harmony,  now  and  for  all  time. 

We  beg  the  commissioners  to  accept,  without  qualification,  our  expres- 
sions of  confidence  that  the  United  States  will,  in  the  right  spirit,  whenever 
it  is  opportune,  frankly  discuss  and  properly  adjust  any  matter  of  doubt  or 


66 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


difiference  concerning  the  two  countries.  We  will  do  our  full  share  in 
cementing  permanently  the  existing  amicable  relations  between  these  two 
great  nations.  Our  reputation  for  fair  and  liberal  dealing  is  established 
and  we  shall  not  intentionally  do,  or  for  long  leave  undone,  anything  to  for- 
feit the  good  opinion  of  mankind.  We  are  sensitive  to  duty  and  moral  obli- 
gation. All  this  is  correspondingly  true  of  the  Japanese  nation.  Evidence 
of  the  feeling  of  genuine  friendship  of  the  Japanese  for  Americans  is  found 
in  every  one  of  the  many  able  addresses  delivered  by  Viscount  Ishii  during 
his  brief  sojourn  in  America. 

Gentlemen,  on  this  occasion  we  take  you  by  the  hand,  in  token  of  a 
sincere  and  solemn  wish  for  a perpetual,  intimate  and  uninterrupted  fellow- 
ship which  must  result  in  no  disadvantage  to  either  country  but  of  im- 
measurable benefit  to  both  and  also  to  others. 

But  the  government  of  Germany  would,  if  possible,  take  both  the  United 
States  and  Japan  by  the  throat  and  deal  with  them  in  accordance  with  the 
methods  practiced  in  other  cases;  and,  so  far  as  the  opportunities  for  in- 
trigue and  chicanery  might  permit,  would  stir  up  and  encourage  ill  feeling 
between  them. 

However,  the  relations  existing  between  the  two  nations  must  never  be 
p>ermitted  to  become  less  intimate  and  cordial  as  the  result  of  the  secrell 
machinations  of  their  foes. 

When  peace  is  restored  it  is  certain  that  the  reciprocal  interests  of  the 
two  countries  will  grow  rapidly  in  magnitude,  and  it  is  of  the  highest  im- 
portance that  every  energy  be  used  by  both,  in  a spirit  of  comity  and  intel- 
ligent cooperation,  to  extend  legitimate  and  successful  enterprise.  Every 
nation,  after  the  war  is  ended,  will  seek  avenues  throughout  the  world  for 
the  development  of  new  and  the  increase  of  old  business  operations,  as  they 
properly  may.  Whatever  course  is  natural  and  right  should  be  pursued  by 
all.  From  our  vast  and  rapidly  increasing  resources  we  shall  offer  to  Japan 
multiplying  benefits ; and  we  note  with  satisfaction  the  fact  that  Japan  is 
rapidly  growing  in  wealth  and  influence.  It  is  both  reasonable  and  normal 
that  the  United  States  should  draw  largely  upon  Japan  for  its  needs  and 
that  the  latter  in  turn  should  supply  its  requirements  from  the  former ; 
and  both  countries  will  have  business  transactions  with  the  same  people  of 
other  countries. 

And  so,  gentlemen  of  Japan,  we  hail  you  as  envoys  of  a friendly  nation 
whom  we  respect  and  admire,  not  alone  because  of  what  it  has  been  and 
has  done  during  the  many  centuries  of  the  past ; nor  because  it  now  stands 
in  the  front  ranks  of  the  greatest  and  most  potential  of  all  the  nations ; but 
more  especially  for  the  reason  that  it  has  in  numberless  ways  demonstrated 
that  it  is  the  friend  of  the  United  States  and  in  turn  recognizes  our  friend- 
ship. 

We  realize  that  in  order  to  be  properly  appreciated  friendship  must  be 
practical.  It  must  be  tested  by  acts  or  omissions.  Professions  alone  are  not 
sufficient.  It  is  quite  common  to  read  of  or  to  hear  expressed  sentiments 
of  friendship  between  Japan  and  the  United  States;  and  they  are  welcome 
and  pleasant.  But  this  feeling  of  amity  between  the  peoples  of  our  countries 
has  been  and  in  the  long  future  will  be  demonstrated  by  decision  and 
conduct. 


NEW  YORK 


67 


The  two  great  countries  who,  in  citizenship,  are  represented  here  today 
felicitate  themselves  that  they  are  comrades  in  arms  with  other  leading  gov- 
ernments in  a combined  effort  to  secure  for  the  people  of  the  world  their 
right  to  liberty,  justice  and  happiness. 

Side  by  side,  in  the  onward  march  of  nations,  the  Allies,  determinedly 
and  triumphantly,  are  moving  forward  to  victory. 

After  the  stirring  speech  of  Judge  Gary,  the  Mayor  arose  and  said: 

Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I have  the  honor  to  present  to  you  the 
eminent  statesman  whom  Japan  has  sent  to  head  this  Mission,  His  Excel- 
lency Viscount  Ishii,  Ambassador  Plenipotentiary  and  Extraordinary  on 
Special  Mission. 

Viscount  Ishii,  who  had  listened  attentively  to  the  eloquent  periods  of  the 
Mayor  so  crisply  and  feelingly  delivered,  and  to  the  plain  but  forcible  remarks 
of  Judge  Gary,  replied  with  very  evident  emotion  as  soon  as  the  applause  had 
quieted  down.  He  said: 

We  are  very  proud  indeed.  Your  Honor  and  gentlemen,  to  receive  such 
a welcome  at  the  hands  of  the  representatives  and  people  of  this  great  city. 
The  warmth  and  generosity  of  this  reception,  and  at  such  a time,  gives  me 
the  right  to  go  back  to  my  people,  half  a world  away,  and  tell  them  that 
space  is  nothing;  that  the  prejudices  and  the  barriers  built  up  and  thrown 
across  the  path  are  m)rths ; that  the  road  from  the  heart  of  the  East  to  the 
heart  of  the  West  is  clear,  and  that  one  of  the  most  wonderful  miracles  of 
all  the  world  and  of  all  time  has  been  accomplished  within  a bare  half 
century. 

Science  and  invention  have  swept  the  word  “distance”  away  as  a mat- 
ter of  little  concern.  We  come  to  you  and  you  to  us  in  less  time  than  half 
a century  ago  it  took  to  travel  from  New  York  to  New  Orleans.  Your 
greatness  has  been  the  marvel  of  the  earth.  The  story  of  this  fabulous 
Island  City  of  the  western  hemisphere  has  been  almost  impossible  of  belief. 
But,  sir,  it  is  not  your  stupendous  enterprise,  your  lofty  and  beautiful  struc- 
tures, or  your  streets  which  teem  with  evidence  of  skill  and  the  very  essence 
of  vitality  that  impress  me  most.  All  that  is  physical  fades  from  before 
me  and  I see  here  the  spirit  of  the  greatest  city  of  the  western  world  meet- 
ing and  giving  friends’  greeting  to  the  spirit  of  my  beloved  land  on  the  open 
field  of  honest  purpose.  There  is  perhaps  more  in  this  welcome  and  in  this 
response  than  in  other  greetings  so  recently  exchanged  in  this  historic  place 
between  the  representatives  of  western  nations  and  of  your  city. 

We  have  passed  through  the  Golden  Gate  out  yonder  on  your  western 
shores  to  find  a great  American  welcome.  In  half  a dozen  cities  and  in 
every  home  our  welcome  has  been  the  same — hearty,  kindly  and  sincere. 
And  now  we  have  come  through  your  eastern  gateway  and  we  find  the  hand 
" clasp  is  the  same,  the  welcome  just  as  hearty  and  the  pledges  for  a better 
future  even  more  encouraging. 


68 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Your  great  Goddess  of  Liberty  has  given  us  the  challenge  and  has 
passed  us  as  friends;  and  now  the  city  of  our  dreams  which  has  trained 
our  youngsters  into  students  and  scientists,  or  taught  our  men  the  wonders 
of  finance  and  trade — the  city  which  today  is  the  very  core  of  the  created 
world — has  paused  for  a precious  hour  to  welcome  us  and  do  us  honor. 

Sir,  we  are  very  proud  and  deeply  conscious  of  the  meaning  of  this 
reception  and  this  welcome.  We  shall  use  the  freedom  you  have  given  us 
with  care,  and  we  shall  hope  to  hold  its  rights  and  privileges  always  to  com- 
memorate this  day  of  great  rejoicing  and  of  vast  importance  in  the  history 
of  our  two  nations. 

You,  sir,  and  the  people  of  your  city  have  our  most  sincere  congratu- 
lations upon  your  wonderful  achievements  and  our  deepest  gratitude  for  this 
reception. 


Up  Fifth  Avenue.  The  Sixty-ninth  Regiment 

Leaving  the  City  Hall,  the  procession  of  automobiles  proceeded  between  un- 
broken masses  of  cheering  people  to  Washington  Square,  where  the  Wanamaker 
battalion  of  women,  armed  for  battle,  stood  at  attention.  A brief  stop  was  made 
while  Colonel  Ernest  presented  Viscount  Ishii  and  Ambassador  Sato  with  medals 
of  the  Order  of  the  Bronze  Star  and  flags  of  the  nation  and  city. 

Seldom  has  Fifth  Avenue  been  so  gorgeously  arrayed.  The  possibilities  of 
the  Japanese  flag  as  a decoration  had  been  developed,  and  the  scene  amazed 
even  New  Yorkers.  A great  Japanese  flag,  with  red  rays  radiating  from  the 
flaming  disk  in  the  center,  covered  one  side  of  the  Washington  Arch,  and  the 
official  flag  of  Japan  hung  over  the  avenfie  at  every  cross  street.  Replacing  the 
regular  street  lamp  globes  were  the  triangular  frames  bearing  the  flags  of  Japan, 
of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  city  of  New  York.  The  mass  of  Japanese  flags 
waved  by  those  packing  the  sidewalks  gave  the  illusion  of  a field  of  gracefully 
swaying  red  flowers. 

But  the  center  of  attraction  in  the  avenue  despite  all  of  this  wonder  of  color 
was  the  camp  hardened  members  of  New  York’s  own  Sixty-ninth  Regiment, 
now  styled  the  165th  U.  S.  A.  The  men  were  lined  up  on  the  east  side  of  the 
avenue  from  Twentieth  Street  to  Thirty-fourth,  standing  rigid  at  “present  arms,” 
as  the  Mission  passed.  The  members  of  the  Mission  were  impressed  by  the 
Sixty-ninth  and  commented  to  each  other  and  those  accompanying  them  upon  the 
appearance  of  the  men.  As  Viscount  Ishii  stood  beside  the  Mayor  in  the  re- 
viewing stand  at  the  Union  League  Club  while  the  regiment,  to  a volley  of  Irish 
tunes,  marched  by,  he  turned  and  said;  “Fine  men,  fine  men.  They  are  real 
soldiers.  They  can  fight.” 

The  regiment  came  from  Camp  Mills  for  its  part  in  the  day’s  program  and 
returned  to  camp  at  night.  And  it  was  their  farewell  to  the  city.  In  a fort- 
night they  were  on  their  way  to  France. 


NEW  YORK 


69 


From  the  Union  League  Club,  where  Charles  Evans  Hughes,  Lord  Aber- 
deen, and  members  of  the  Mayor’s  committee  were  among  those  on  the  review- 
ing stand,  the  Mission  went  to  the  home  of  Judge  Gary,  at  Fifth  Avenue  and 
67th  Street,  their  residence  while  in  the  city.  Before  leaving  the  club  Viscount 
Ishii  told  reporters  that  he  had  been  impressed  by  the  sincerity  of  the  popular 
greeting  and  repeated  the  praise  of  the  men  of  the  “Sixty-ninth.” 

After  a leisurely  parade  northward  in  Fifth  Avenue  to  the  home  of  Judge 
Gary,  the  members  of  the  Mission  retired  from  the  public  gaze  to  prepare  them- 
selves for  the  dinner  which  Judge  Gary  was  giving  in  their  honor. 

In  addition  to  the  members  of  the  Mission  and  the  Mayor’s  reception  com- 
mittee, there  were  also  at  the  dinner  Governor  Whitman,  Mayor  Mitchel,  Jacob 
H.  Schiff,  George  W.  Perkins,  Admiral  Gleaves,  Robert  Adamson,  Lindsay 
Russell,  Ambassador  Sato,  George  S.  Baker,  A.  P.  Hepburn,  R.  A.  C.  Smith 
and  Melville  E.  Stone. 

After  the  dinner  a reception  was  given  for  the  wives  of  those  who  attended 
the  dinner  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  evening. 

A musical  program  was  provided.  The  artists  included  Alischa  Elman  and 
Mme.  Alda. 

Sightseeing 

The  second  day  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission  in  New  York,  Friday, 
September  28,  was  full  of  events.  At  ten  o’clock  the  party  left  the  Gary  resi- 
dence for  a sightseeing  trip,  in  the  course  of  which  they  visited  the  Woolworth 
Building.  They  were  piloted  by  IMr.  George  T.  Wilson,  chairman  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Mayor’s  reception  committee,  and  other  members  of  the 
committee.  Whisked  up  to  the  tower  top  they  were  much  impressed  by  the  view 
therefrom,  though  the  morning  was  dull  and  a drizzling  rain  was  falling.  The 
jagged  sky-line  of  tall  buildings  certainly  surprised  them,  but  gray  mist  curtained 
in  the  distances  revealed  on  clear  days.  For  ten  minutes  they  visited  the  Stock 
Exchange,  and  then  dropped  in  the  Bankers  Club  in  the  Equitable  Building. 
It  was  now  time  to  go  to  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  where  the  first  formal 
function  of  the  day  was  to  take  place. 

Chamber  of  Commerce  Reception  and  Luncheon 

At  half  an  hour  after  twelve  Viscount  Ishii  and  the  Mission  were  met  in  the 
vestibule  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  by  a reception  committee  of  its  prominent 
members,  headed  by  President  Outerbridge,  and  including  Alfred  E.  Marling, 
Welding  Ring,  T.  De  Witt  Cuyler,  Eugene  Delano,  A.  Barton  Hepburn.  Darwin 
P.  Kingsley,  Samuel  W.  Fairchild,  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  Herbert  L.  Satterlee,  John 
Claflin,  Isaac  N.  Seligman,  John  I.  Waterbury,  Dallas  B.  Pratt,  Anson  W. 
Burchard  and  A.  C.  Bedford. 


70 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


The  visiting  party  were  Viscount  K.  Ishii,  Ambassador  Extraordinary  and 
Plenipotentiary;  I.  Takeshita,  Vice  Admiral  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Navy; 
Major  General  H.  Sugano,  Imperial  Japanese  Army;  the  Hon.  M.  Hanihara, 
Consul  General  at  San  Francisco ; the  Hon.  M.  Nagai,  Secretary  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Foreign  Affairs;  Commander  M.  Ando,  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Navy; 
Lieutenant  Colonel  S.  Tanikawa,  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Army;  the  Hon.  T. 
Imai,  Vice  Consul  at  Honolulu,  and  K.  Owaku,  private  secretary  to  Viscount 
Ishii. 

They  were  escorted  to  the  platform  by  members  of  the  reception  com- 
mittee and  the  other  guests  of  the  chamber,  who  included  Aimaro  Sato,  Japanese 
Ambassador  to  the  United  States;  Mayor  Mitchel,  C.  Yada,  Japanese  Consul 
General  in  New  York ; Breckinridge  Long,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State ; 
Rear  Admiral  Nathaniel  R.  Usher,  U.  S.  N. ; Brigadier  General  James  A.  Irons, 
U.  S.  A. ; Brigadier  General  Eli  D.  Hoyle,  U.  S.  A. ; Captain  W.  W.  Phelps, 
U.  S.  N. ; A.  B.  Ruddock,  Secretary  of  the  Embassy;  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Mizumachi,  Military  Attache  of  the  Japanese  Embassy ; Commander  Viscount 
Hotta,  Assistant  Naval  Attache  of  the  Embassy ; E.  Nuida,  Third  Secretary  of 
the  Embassy ; Elbert  H.  Gary,  chairman  of  the  mayor’s  committee  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  Mission;  Major  General  Daniel  Appleton,  William  Fellowes 
Morgan,  president  of  the  Merchants’  Association;  Lindsay  Russell,  president  of 
the  Japan  Society ; Colonel  William  A.  Simpson,  U.  S.  A. ; Lieutenant  Com- 
mander Wilcox,  U.  S.  N. ; Captain  Gerald  Stratton,  R.  A.  C.  Smith,  George  T. 
Wilson,  Franklin  Q.  Brown,  Henry  S.  Thompson,  Arthur  Woods,  Leon  G. 
Godley,  Hunter  Wykes,  Donn  Barber  and  William  C.  Breed. 

As  the  visitors  entered  smiling,  the  company,  a thousand  strong,  gave  them 
a rousing  welcome.  As  soon  as  they  were  seated  President  Outerbridge  came 
forward  and  said : 


Gentlemen  of  the  Chamber,  Your  E.xcellency,  and  members  of  the  Im- 
perial Japanese  Mission,  Mr.  Mayor  and  guests:  This  assemblage  of  men, 
representative  of  the  great  business,  commercial  and  financial  interests  of 
this  city,  which  is  the  business  and  financial  capital  of  the  United  States,  is 
gathered  here  today  for  the  especial  purpose  of  extending  the  hand  of  wel- 
come and  of  warm  friendship  to  these  our  distinguished  guests,  the  repre- 
sentatives of  our  great  ally  in  the  Far  East,  Japan. 

We  appreciate  the  courtesy  and  the  honor  that  that  nation  has  done  us 
in  sending  these  distinguished  gentlemen  on  this  long  voyage  across  the 
Pacific  and  the  American  continent  to  confer  with  our  government  as  to 
how  we  may  better  cooperate  in  our  efforts  to  bring  to  a speedy  and  suc- 
cessful conclusion  this  great  war  in  which  we  are  now  both  engaged. 

In  this  stupendous  conflict  which  shakes  the  world  to  its  foundations ; 
which  has  arrested  the  progress  of  civilization  and  threatens  to  destroy  its 
past  achievements ; which  divides  the  whole  world  into  two  camps  of 


NEW  YORK 


71 


diametrically  opposite  philosophies  and  conceptions  of  national  and  inter- 
national relations  and  political  liberties,  we  are  indeed  proud  to  find  that 
this  ancient  nation  of  the  Far  East,  which  accepted  the  hand  of  friendship 
from  the  western  world,  first  from  us  through  our  great  Commodore  Perry, 
is  now  arrayed  with  us  and  on  our  side. 

Viscount  Ishii,  we  have  seen  your  nation  engaged  in  great  wars  of  its 
own.  We  know  that  the  men  of  your  navy  and  armies  fight  with  unsur- 
passed valor,  with  unbounded  devotion  and  patriotism  to  their  country  and 
their  Emperor,  and  always  with  that  chivalry  which  marks  the  man  of  true 
courage.  We  know  that  they  scorn  the  brutalities  that  are  perpetrated  by 
those  who  hold  to  the  belief  that  might  is  supreme  over  right.  Then,  too, 
we  have  seen  the  marvelous  advances  that  your  nation  has  made  in  peaceful 
industrial  arts.  Your  initiative,  ingenuity  and  perseverence  have  challenged 
our  admiration. 

We  have  seen  your  nation  in  scarcely  more  than  half  a century,  in  the 
span  of  one  human  life  as  it  were,  emerge  from  its  ancient  exclusiveness  in 
the  Orient  and  take  a position  among  the  progressive  and  predominant 
powers  of  the  western  world. 

We  believe  that  this  visit  that  you  have  now  paid  us  will  result  in  a 
great  deal  more  than  merely  a better  cooperation  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
war;  we  believe  that  it  will  cement  and  perpetuate  the  friendship  which  has 
really  existed  from  all  time ; we  believe  that  it  will  demonstrate  to  all  those, 
whether  foes  abroad  or  alien  foes  within,  or  disloyal  people  masquerading 
under  our  own  citizenship,  who  have  tried  by  propaganda  of  innuendo  and 
suspicion,  to  raise  up,  as  it  were,  a “chilling  mist”  between  us,  that  their 
efforts  have  completely  failed.  We  believe  that  your  visit  and  the  recep- 
tion which  you  have  had  will  result  in  the  representative  people  of  our  two 
nations  determining  upon  whatever  steps  may  be  necessary  to  see  that  this 
friendship  shall  not  be  disturbed  in  the  future  but  that  it  shall  continue  to 
grow  and  to  glow  with  increasing  warmth. 

In  the  great  era  of  reconstruction  and  commercial  expansion  which 
must  follow  this  war,  we  realize  that  in  the  Far  East  your  nation  must 
play  a most  prominent  part. 

In  the  great  republic  of  China  which  lies  close  to  your  shores,  where, 
notwithstanding  its  ancient  civilization,  culture,  philosophy,  religion  and  art, 
nevertheless  there  remain  great  masses  of  its  people  who  are  as  yet  only 
children  in  their  knowledge  of  western  industrial  art,  as  you  and  we  have 
conceived  and  developed  it,  we  know  that  you  will  certainly  be  a leading 
factor  in  bringing  to  them  the  knowledge  and  the  products  of  western 
civilization.  We  feel  that  you  and  we  should  be  allies  in  that  work  as  we 
are  now  allies  in  the  prosecution  of  this  war.  We  believe  that  you  and  we 
should  approach  that  work  in  the  same  mutual  confidence  and  with  the  same 
lofty  purposes  which  we  now  have  in  prosecuting  this  war.  We  feel  that 
we  should  each  carry  into  that  great  republic  the  benefits  of  western  indus- 
trial products  and  processes,  but  that  in  so  doing,  their  people  should  benefit 
thereby  quite  as  much  at  least  as  we  ourselves  do. 

Indeed,  Sir,  should  it  not  be  that  in  joining  your  energy,  productive 
efficiency  and  propinquity  with  our  material  resources  and  our  capital,  that 
their  people  may  say  of  our  efforts,  and  posterity  may  write  down  of  what 


72 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


we  have  done,  what  Shakespeare  said  of  the  quality  of  mercy,  that,  “It 
blesseth  him  that  gives  and  him  that  takes.” 

Gentlemen  of  the  Japanese  Commission,  we  believe  fully  in  the  sin- 
cerity of  your  purposes.  We  extend  to  you  the  heartiest  of  welcome,  we 
offer  you  the  warmest  spirit  of  cooperation  and  we  pledge  you  sympathy  and 
support  if  it  is  ever  needed. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Chamber,  I have  the  great  honor  to  present  to  you. 
Viscount  Ishii,  Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary  of  the  Em- 
pire and  of  the  Emperor  of  Japan. 

Viscount  Ishii  arose  and  said: 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen : To  but  few  men  comes  such  opportunity. 
I can  only  hope  that  it  may  be  in  my  power  to  impress  you  with  some  small 
sense  of  my  own  appreciation  and  of  the  obligation  under  which  you  have 
placed  my  associates  and  my  countrymen.  I would  be  a proud  man  indeed 
if  some  power  could  give  to  me  the  gift  of  speech  to  make  reply  in  kind  to 
your  gracious  and  eloquent  words,  but  I am  comforted  by  the  thought  that 
no  words  coined  or  strung  together  could  in  any  language  convey  even  a 
small  sense  of  our  appreciation. 

Before  a body  of  such  men,  at  a time  like  this,  it  would  be  a poor  com- 
pliment and  bad  manners  to  be  silent,  and  yet  it  seems  to  me  that  the  value 
of  silence  has  gone  up  since  it  tame  my  time  to  speak  and  perhaps  you, 
gentlemen,  are  quite  capable  of  telling  me  that  with  the  present  price  of 
silver  you  would  prefer  to  have  speech  because  you  would  gain  so  little  by 
choosing  silence.  I am  sorry  that  from  my  point  of  view  I can  not  agree 
with  you. 

I am,  however,  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  say  some  things  to  you  on  an 
occasion  which  demands  and  ensures  frank  speech  and  sincerity.  I am 
speaking  to  the  men  who  represent  the  whole  world  of  business  in  a busi- 
ness day  of  such  vast  intricacies  and  considerations  that  we  who  stand  out- 
side understand  but  little  of  the  movement.  Least  of  all,  perhaps,  do  we 
who  come  from  a small  island  some  ten  thousand  miles  away  whose  total 
business  falls  something  short  of  what  the  records  show  for  this  island  of 
Manhattan.  But,  gentlemen,  every  little  helps,  and  little  Japan  is  here  to 
help.  We  are  here  to  say  that  Japan  will  make  herself  as  unpleasant  to  the 
enemy  as  her  physical  make-up  will  permit  or  her  ingenuity  conceive.  This 
wonderful  welcome  we  have  had  in  New  York,  your  presence  and  your 
words  today,  make  us  feel  proud.  Since  our  arrival  in  America  we  have 
not  only  been  impressed  but  compressed  by  the  gigantic  measure  of  your 
resources  and  your  preparations  to  stop  the  war  by  providing  the  only  means 
by  which  it  can  be  stopped — the  complete,  utter,  physical  defeat  and  humilia- 
tion of  Germany.  But  I assure  you  that  we  are  with  you  as  your  allies,  your 
cqmrades  and  your  partners  in  the  winning  of  this  war  which  means  so 
much  to  all  the  world. 

You  will  be  satisfied  that  Japan  has  done,  is  doing  and  will  do  her  share 
in  such  manner  as  to  justify  her  in  claiming  a place  in  the  company  of 
honest  men. 


NEW  YORK 


73 


We  have  been  friends,  sir,  for  some  fifty  years.  We  propose  to 
strengthen  that  friendship.  We  have  earned  a right  to  it  by  the  true  history 
of  the  past  and  we  propose  to  hold  it  through  all  the  years  that  are  to  come, 
for  we  value  it  far  too  highly  to  risk  its  loss.  In  these  fifty  years  of  great 
development  for  you  and  for  us  we  have  met  in  the  market  place,  and,  as 
time  went  by,  the  understanding  grew,  \^'e  have  tasted  of  your  gracious 
hospitality  on  other  occasions.  We  have  learned' from  you  the  ways  of  the 
West  and  of  the  Street ; but,  sir,  those  were  different  times  and  different 
inducements.  Hitherto  we  have  come  to  you,  as  you  have  come  to  us,  with 
something  to  sell  or  something  to  buy;  something  to  give  and  something  to 
take.  Hitherto  it  has  been  the  cry  that  trade  and  commerce,  exchange  and 
mart  would  bring  us  to  a better  understanding  and  it  has ; but  today  there 
is  something  more.  East  meets  West  on  common  ground.  “That  Royal 
Hawk,  the  sun,  has  flown  from  the  Orient’s  hand  and  lighted  in  the  West.’’ 
The  same  sun  glorifies  the  stars  and  is  blazoned  on  the  snow  white  field  of 
“your  flag  and  my  flag  as  they  fly  today ; on  your  land  and  my  land  half  a 
world  away.”  This  is  the  day  of  the  gathering  of  the  clans  of  the  East  and 
of  the  West.  The  day  has  dawned  in  which  the  yesterday  is  forgotten ; when 
old  prejudices,  old  misunderstandings  fade  and  you  greet  us  as  we  greet 
you — old  friends,  and  new  made  brothers  in  the  struggle  for  human  liberty, 
human  freedom  and  national  existence. 

The  Chamber  then  adjourned  and  the  guests  and  members  proceeded  to  the 
library  wEere  luncheon  was  served.  At  the  dose  of  the  luncheon.  President 
Outerbridge  said : 


Members  of  the  Chamber  especially,  and  also  our  distinguished  guests : 
I certainly  should  be  derelict  in  my  duty  if  I brought  this  function  to  a con- 
clusion without  giving  you  an  opportunity  to  testify  that  at  this  moment  we 
want  to  look  at  and  stand  beside  our  young  Mayor.  I am  going  to  ask  him 
to  say  just  a word  on  our  behalf  to  our  guests. 

Mayor  Mitchel  in  response  said: 

Mr.  Outerbridge.  Your  Excellency,  gentlemen  of  the  Commission,  and 
gentlemen : I fear  that  the  members  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  War  Mission 
will  almost  become  tired  of  the  repeated  welcomes  extended  to  them  by  me 
on  behalf  of  the  city,  but  gentlemen,  let  me  assure  you  that  though  they  come 
often,  they  are  all  sincere.  The  city  delights  to  honor  these  distinguished 
representatives  of  our  great  ally  in  the  East,  and  our  friend,  Japan. 

The  people  of  New  York  recognize  the  deep  significance  of  this  meet- 
ing, a significance  that  has  to  do  not  only  with  the  past  friendship  that  has 
existed  between  the  two  peoples,  the  cementing  of  that  friendship  and  the 
promise  that  it  will  continue  for  all  time,  but  the  significance  of  this  visit  to 
our  country  in  the  present  state  of  the  war  means  that  Japan  extends  to  us. 
through  it  today,  the  assurance  that  she  is  with  us  as  she  has  been  with  the 
other  allies  since  the  beginning  of  this  war,  and  chat  she  is  prepared  to 
cooperate  with  us  as  we  are  prepared  to  cooperate  with  her,  and  we  have 


74 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


to  bring  this  war  to  a victorious  issue.  Gentlemen,  our  great  nation  is  pre- 
pared. Every  day  the  young  men  go  to  concentration  and  to  training  camps 
and  every  day,  or  almost  every  day,  ships  go  out  bearing  troops  across  the 
Atlantic.  There  is  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of  what  Judge  Gary  said  to  you  in 
the  City  Hall  that  the  American  people  are  prepared  to  put  as  many  men 
into  the  field  as  may  be  necessary  to  win  this  war,  and  that  they  are  ready 
to  devote  as  many  billions  of  the  national  treasure  to  the  winning  of  this 
war  as  it  may  require.  But  beside  those  things,  it  is  necessary  that  this 
great  nation  keep  here  at  home  as  an  inspiration  to  the  fighting  forces  at  the 
front,  a public  spirit  that  will  know  no  division  and  that  will  know  no  sedi- 
tion or  at  least  will  repudiate  any  utterance  which  may  strike  not  only  at 
our  nation  but  at  any  one  of  our  allies  in  cooperation  with  us. 

Your  great  nation  is  indeed  a lesson  for  the  people  of  the  United  States 
in  the  wonderful  spirit  of  individual  devotion  and  self-sacrifice  to  the 
national  cause  that  Japan  knows  among  her  people.  There  is  perhaps  no 
nation  in  the  world  where  the  individual  is  prepared  so  completely  to  sacri- 
fice himself  to  the  good  of  the  country,  to  the  good  of  his  neighbors  as  the 
individual  in  your  country,  Japan.  And  when  small  groups  here  and  there 
scattered  through  our  people  are  discussing  the  effect  of  this  war  upon  their 
community,  upon  the  interests  of  other  countries  or  places  in  which  they 
take,  no  matter  how  deep  and  how  honest  and  heartfelt  an  interest — when 
they  are  doing  this  and  when  they  are  discussing  whether  or  not  they  owe 
to  the  United  States  an  unquestioned  and  unswerving  loyalty  in  this  war, 
they  may  well  take  a lesson  and  an  inspiration  from  the  people  of  Japan  who, 
when  their  country  is  at  war,  have  nothing  to  ask  but  only  to  serve. 

These  are  indeed  days  of  remarkable  happenings  and  of  new  things. 
We  have  received,  one  after  another,  the  great  war  commissions  from  the 
Allied  nations.  Now  comes  this  Commission  from  the  Far  East. 

It  seems  to  me  that  this  year  is  seeing  a parallel  drawn  between  the  his- 
tory of  Japan  and  the  history  of  the  United  States.  In  1853  Perry  bore 
the  message  of  friendship  to  Japan  and  the  isolation  of  Japan,  maintained 
for  three  centuries,  was  broken,  and  intercourse  began  between  the  East  and 
the  West. 

This  year  sees  a traditional  isolation  of  the  United  States  broken  for 
all  time.  Our  relations  with  the  rest  of  the  world  from  this  day  forward 
must  be  other  than  they  have  been  in  the  past.  We  can  no  longer  consider 
ourselves  separate  from  the  interests  and  from  the  happenings  of  the  other 
nations  of  the  world.  We  must  take  our  place  among  them  and  we  must 
champion  with  those  on  the  side  of  right  the  same  great  principles  of  de- 
mocracy and  human  liberty.  There  will  be  no  complete  isolation  for  America 
in  the  future.  And  so,  gentlemen,  the  United  States  in  this  year  stretches 
out  her  hands  across  the  Atlantic  to  the  East,  and  across  the  Pacific,  west- 
ward, to  the  Far  East,  in  friendship,  in  cooperation,  cementing  bonds  that 
are  not  lightly  to  be  broken  in  the  future ; bonds  that  we  know  never  will  be 
broken ; and  a brotherhood  is  formed  among  all  the  peoples  of  the  earth  who 
believe  in  permitting  those  who  live  within  a country  to  live  at  peace,  under 
institutions  of  their  own  choosing,  and  who  believe  in  establishing  safe- 
guards for  the  small  nations  of  the  world  against  the  aggression  of  autocracy 
and  the  brutality  of  barbarism. 


NEW  YORK 


75 


At  the  Tomb  of  General  Grant 

After  the  luncheon  came  a trip  on  the  police  boat  Patrol  up  the  East  River 
and  through  the  Harlem  Ship  Canal.  Vhscount  Ishii,  Ambassador  Sato,  Vice 
Admiral  Takeshita,  Major  General  Sugano,  and  others  were  in  the  party. 

The  vessel  docked  at  129th  Street  at  5 o’clock  and  the  party  motored  to 
Grant’s  Tomb.  Here  the  Seventy-first  Regiment  formed  a lane  of  honor.  The 
Seventh  Regiment  band  played  the  Japanese  national  anthem. 

W’ith  simple  touching  ceremonial,  Viscount  Ishii,  his  footsteps  lighted  by 
a single  torch  through  the  dusk  of  the  evening  hour  within  the  monument,  laid 
a wreath  of  roses  on  the  coffin  of  General  Grant,  followed  by  courtesies  to  the 
spirit  of  the  dead  Commander  of  the  Union  by  all  the  other  members  of  the 
Mission. 

The  party  then  witnessed  a review  of  the  Seventy-first  Regiment.  The 
Viscount,  Ambassador  Sato,  Major  General  Sugano  and  the  others  complimented 
Colonel  Bates  upon  the  splendid  showing  of  his  men.  Like  the  old  Sixty-ninth 
of  the  day  before,  this  was  the  Seventy-first’s  farewell  to  Xew  York.  That 
night  it  was  on  its  way. 

Dinner  Given  by  Mayor  Mitchel  and  Executive  Committee 

This  was  the  truly  decorative  event  of  the  Mission's  visit  to  New  York, 
and  indeed  in  that  respect  fairly  surpassed  any  of  its  long  list  of  dinners  in  wel- 
come to  visiting  war  missions.  It  was  given  by  Mayor  Mitchel  and  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Mayor’s  reception  committee  in  honor  of  Viscount  Ishii 
and  his  associates  at  the  Ritz-Carlton,  and  the  coup  d’ ceil  won  exclamations  of 
delight  from  all  the  guests. 

With  the  devoted  assistance  of  Japanese  artists,  who  labored  night  and  day 
to  transform  the  ballroom  of  the  Ritz-Carlton,  George  T.  Wilson  and  Herbert 
Swope  of  the  committee  and  Manager  Albert  Keller  of  the  Ritz-Carlton  pro- 
duced a dinner  setting  of  incomparable  loveliness.  Nipponese  painters  created 
panels,  splendid  panels,  afire  with  color  and  alive  with  movement,  for  the  prin- 
cipal adornment  of  the  four  walls.  They  reproduced  the  familiar  motifs  of 
Japanese  art,  softened  somewhat  for  western  appreciation,  and  they  brushed 
upon  other  spaces  the  ancient  heraldic  devices  of  the  samurai.  Set  between  these 
gorgeous  panels  were' lovely  lanterns  of  silk  and  paper,  each  showing  a bright 
device  pleasing  to  the  initiated  eye  of  the  guests.  At  the  east  end  of  the  ball- 
room was  a display  of  the  flags  of  all  the  allies  against  Germany,  the  Rising 
Sun  flag  draping  emblematically  behind  the  colors  of  Japan’s  national  comrades 
— their  support,  as  the  Mayor  quickly  noted,  in  the  eastern  world. 

All  the  speakers  commented  upon  the  picture  thus  presented,  and  Viscount 
Ishii,  who  confined  his  remarks  there  to  an  appreciation  of  the  reception  ac- 


76 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


corded  to  him  and  the  Mission,  said  he  “never  had  seen  anything  quite  so 
beautiful.’’ 

The  table,  with  one  hundred  and  two  covers  laid,  was  arranged  in  the 
form  of  a hollow  square.  It  was  spread  with  the  dusky  red  bloom  of  the 
celocia.  The  deep  and  wide  well  of  space  in  the  square  was  massed  with  bril- 
liant chrysanthemums — yellow,  w'hite,  deep  red — and  over  all  was  a gentle  illu- 
mination of  soft  light,  an  efifect  shrewdly  created  by  indirect  devices  and  by 
silken  screens.  The  general  efifect  of  the  decorative  triumph  won  instant  praise 
from  the  Japanese  guests  and  was  alluded  to  more  than  once  by  the  speakers 
of  the  evening.  Mayor  Mitchel,  Governor  Whitman,  United  States  Senator 
Robert  L.  Owen  of  Oklahoma,  and  \^iscount  Ishii. 

The  gentlemen  of  Japan,  with  their  American  hosts  of  the  Mayor’s  execu- 
tive committee,  arrived  at  the  Ritz-Carlton  at  7.30  p.m.,  and  after  a few  minutes 
of  conversation  and  a pledge  or  two  of  personal  friendship  were  escorted  to  the 
glowing  banquet  room.  Viscount  Ishii  was  placed  between  the  Mayor  and  the 
Governor,  with  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita,  Major  General  Sugano  and  Aimaro 
Sato,  the  Japanese  Ambassador  to  the  United  States,  in  other  seats  of  honor 
near  Senator  Owen  and  prominent  members  of  the  executive  committee. 

In  addition  to  the  Japanese  party  the  guests  included  Robert  Adamson, 
General  Daniel  Appleton.  August  Belmont,  Emory  R.  Buckner,  Nicholas  Murray 
Butler,  Edward  H.  Blashfield,  Nicholas  F.  Brady,  Erederic  R.  Coudert,  Judge 
Elbert  H.  Gary,  Hugh  Frayne,  Samuel  Gompers,  Charles  E.  Hughes,  Hamilton 
Holt.  Dr.  J.  Takamine,  T.  lyenaga.  Brigadier  General  James  A.  Irons,  Alexander 
Konta,  Otto  H.  Kahn,  Dr.  George  F.  Kunz,  Thomas  W.  Lamont,  Martin  W. 
Littleton,  George  McAneny,  Clarence  H.  Mackay,  Henry  Morgenthau,  William 
Fellowes  Morgan,  Byron  Newton,  Morgan  J.  O’Brien,  E.  H.  Outerbridge,  Ogden 
M.  Reid,  Elihu  Root,  Theodore  Rousseau,  Herbert  B.  Swope,  Don  C.  Seitz,  John 
B.  Stanchfield,  George  R.  Sheldon,  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  Charles  M.  Schwab,  Oscar 
S.  Straus,  George  T.  Wilson,  George  W.  Wickersham  and  Police  Commissioner 
Arthur  Woods. 

At  a few  minutes  past  9 p.m.  Mayor  Mitchel  opened  the  informal  speech- 
making by  assuring  the  Japanese  visitors  how  gladly  the  people  of  New  York 
seized  another  opportunity  to  honor  them.  After  he  had  proposed  the  healths 
of  the  President  and  of  the  Emperor  of  Japan,  which  were  drunk  standing  while 
the  orchestra  played  the  national  anthem,  he  said: 

When  the  Italian  Mission  was  here  I told  them  New  York  was  the 
greatest  Italian  city  in  the  world,  having  800,000  of  the  people  of  that 
nation  in  its  population.  We  can  not  speak  in  such  numbers  to  our  present 
visitors,  as  we  only  have  about  1,500  Japanese  in  our  city;  but  we  can  as- 
sure them  they  are  among  the  most  respected,  law  abiding  and  substantial 
of  our  citizens. 


XEW  YORK 


77 


He  recalled  the  visits  of  General  Kuroki  and  of  Admiral  Togo,  and  intro- 
duced Governor  \\’hitman  with  the  compliment  that  “Xew  York  State’s  readi- 
ness to  help  the  Union  is  due  in  large  measure  to  the  work  of  her  Governor  in 
the  past  two  or  three  years.’’ 

Governor  Whitman  informed  the  Mission  of  the  sincerity  of  the  welcome 
by  the  state,  and  added : 

It  has  taken  a great  struggle  to  convince  us  of  just  what  the  friend- 
ship of  Japan  means  to  us.  Now  we  are  convinced  that  they  have  joined 
us,  not  only  in  hands,  but  in  hearts.  We  are  joined  now  in  a holy  cause 
and  are  bound  to  win.  The  Commission  has  come  to  find  a united  people, 
from  coast  to  coast,  from  top  to  bottom,  with  every  soul  solidly  behind 
the  President. 

We  are  for  America  to  the  last  drop.  There  is  nothing  small  or  mean 
about  that  remark.  Y’e  are  for  our  allies,  for  England  and  Russia  and 
Belgium  and  all  the  others,  and  for  France,  whose  men  sing  as  they  live  and 
smile  as  they  die.  Y’e  are  glad  that  Japan  is  with  us  and  we  are  in  every 
sense  with  Japan,  and  we  hope  that  this  friendship,  made  in  this  time  of 
shadow,  shall  live  forever  in  the  sunshiny  days  to  come. 

W’e  are  for  America,  but  in  no  narrow,  petty  way.  We  are  for  En- 
gland, Japan,  all  the  Allies,  because  they  represent  now  the  things  that 
America  stands  for.  Y'e  are  against  pacifism,  anti-conscriptionism,  and  anti- 
militarism, and  against  any  “ism”  that  tends  to  divide  our  people.  Y’e  are 
for  the  war  to  the  limit  and  to  the  finish. 

United  States  Senator  Owen  of  Oklahoma,  introduced  by  Mayor  Mitchel 
as  “One  who  shone  all  the  more  b)"  contrast  with  certain  others,”  testified  to  the 
admiration  that  the  American  people  have  for  the  rise  of  the  Japanese  nation, 
an  advance  incomparable  in  history. 

It  gives  us  the  great  opportunity  [said  Senator  Owen]  to  remove  the 
seeds  of  doubt  and  suspicion  which  enemies  of  the  United  States  and  Japan 
have  been  so  busy  sowing  in  the  last  decade. 

He  recalled  that  no  representative  of  the  Allies  had  made  a more  profound 
impression  in  speaking  before  the  Senate  than  Viscount  Ishii  of  Japan,  because 
the  \^iscount’s  words  were  so  truly  the  sentiments  of  humanity,  liberty,  equality 
and  justice.  He  was  elated  that  America  and  Japan  stand  together  to  crush 
Hohenzollernism. 

How  deplorable  it  is  [said  the  .Senator]  that  a great  people,  the  Ger- 
mans, should  have  been  subjected  from  the  cradle  to  the  education  which 
taught  them  that  might  is  right.  They  have  heard  it  from  pulpit  and  press 
and  teacher.  But  it  must  be  stamped  out  of  the  world. 


78 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


The  Senator  assured  the  visitors  that  Americans  hold  them  equal  in  every 
way  to  the  people  of  any  nation  on  earth. 

The  closing  talk  was  made  by  Viscount  Ishii ; ju.st  a few  words  in  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  heaped  up  bouquets  of  compliments. 

Since  we  left  tlie  pier  on  our  arrival  we  have  had  constant  evidence 
of  the  genuine  friendship  of  America  for  my  country.  If  there  was  any 
need  for  proofs  of  friendship,  the  people  of  New  York  have  abundantly 
furnished  them.  I beg  to  propose  the  healths  of  the  Governor  and  the 
Mayor. 

Japan  Society’s  Reception 

The  chief  function  of  the  evening,  however,  was  the  reception  and  supper 
tendered  by  the  Japan  Society  at  the  Astor  Hotel.  For  that  society  indeed  the 
function  was  in  the  nature  of  a fruition.  For  years  past  its  thousand  members, 
American  and  Japanese,  have  striven  to  implant  a belief  throughout  the  United 
States  in  the  good  faith  of  Japan,  and  the  moral  and  material  advisability  of 
warm  and  cordial  relations  between  the  two  countries  in  the  name  of  an  old 
friendship,  and  later  because  of  the  new  condition  in  the  governments  of  the 
world  imposed  by  the  great  world  war. 

A very  large  gathering  of  men  in  uniform  or  evening  dress,  and  women  in 
fashionable  attire — many  of  the  ladies  indeed  in  the  Japanese  costume  to  which 
they  were  native — was  waiting  in  the  large  ballroom  of  the  Astor  when  at  some- 
thing after  nine  o’clock  the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission,  headed  by  Viscount  Ishii, 
arrived.  A note  of  cheerfulness  dominated,  and  their  reception  was  as  cordial 
as  any  they  had  met  during  a day  of  emotions.  It  was,  in  truth,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  bodies  of  notables  ever  assembled  in  New  York  City,  and  in- 
cluded state  and  city  officials,  generals  and  admirals  of  America  and  Japan, 
numerous  diplomats  and  others  of  equal  prominence  in  the  official,  political, 
literary  and  social  world. 

Lindsay  Russell,  president  of  the  Japan  Society,  made  the  address  of 
welcome : 

We  salute  Viscount  Ishii  as  an  old  friend  of  this  society.  We  greet 
Mr.  Nagai  as  one  of  its  founders.  We  welcome  Mr.  Hanihara  as  an  ardent 
supporter,  and  to  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita,  Major  General  Sugano  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Mission,  one  and  all,  we  extend  our  heartiest  appre- 
ciation of  the  splendid  service  they  are  rendering  in  bringing  about  a clearer 
understanding  and  better  relations  between  our  two  countries. 

Yx)u  need  no  welcome  from  the  Japan  Society.  So  far  as  its  hospitality 
is  concerned  the  doctrine  of  extraterritoriality  applies.  It  is  difficult  to  be- 
lieve that  you  have  traveled  nearly  8,000  miles  to  pay  us  this  visit;  but  that 


NEW  YORK 


79 


distance  has  been  immeasurably  reduced  by  the  friendliness  revealed  in  all 
of  your  utterances  and  the  frankness  with  which  you  have  spoken. 

It  was  just  prior  to  the  civil  war  when  the  first  Imperial  Mission  from 
Japan  visited  the  United  States.  But  it  has  remained  for  you  and  the  mem- 
bers of  your  distinguished  Mission  to  open  the  door  of  America ; that  is, 
the  door  to  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  American  people,  as  no  other 
Japanese  visitors  have  done.  Thus  will  your  visit  be  recorded  in  history. 

Your  Mission  has  stimulated  the  international  mind  of  the  American 
people.  Your  keynote,  like  that  of  the  Mayor  of  our  great  city,  has  been, 
“Be  right  and  speak  out.”  The  grace  and  ease  with  which  you  have 
overcome  the  barriei"  of  language  has  lifted  the  imaginary  veil  of  inscruta- 
bility. You  have  aroused  the  envy  and  despair  of  all  who  hear  you  speak. 
You  have  captivated  Washington,  our  political  center.  You  have  estab- 
lished an  intellectual  entente  with  Boston,  our  center  of  culture.  You  have 
fraternized  with  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love.  Bostonians  and  Philadel- 
phians have  a point  in  common  with  the  Orient  in  that  they  firmly  believe  in 
and  faithfully  practice  ancestor  worship.  And  now  New  York,  the  embodi- 
ment and  inspiration  of  them  all,  is  yours. 

It  is  a happy  augury  for  the  success  of  your  Mission  in  New  York 
that  so  many  ladies  are  interested.  With  or  without  the  ballot  the  American 
woman  is  becoming  a great  factor  in  international  relations.  American 
women  consume  more  than  three-fourths  of  all  Japan’s  exports  to  the  United 
States.  Sixty  per  cent  of  all  travelers  to  Japan  for  pleasure  are  women. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  remaining  forty  per  cent  are  largely  influenced  to 
go  by  the  ladies.  All  lectures  on  Japan  and  most  of  the  literature  on  Japan 
should  appeal  primarily  to  American  women  to  win  a wide  audience  in  the 
United  States.  One  of  Japan’s  best  friends  today  is  the  American  woman. 

“Tell  the  truth  about  Japan,”  has  been  the  slogan  of  this  society.  For 
ten  years  we  have  combated  the  venomous  gossip  and  vicious  slander  of 
Japan,  and,  more  difficult  still,  ignorance  and  indifference  on  the  part  of 
many  writers  and  speakers.  On  the  other  hand,  Japan’s  friends  have  over- 
praised her.  In  taking  a middle  course,  a service  which  I can  perhaps  render, 
is  to  testify  that  the  Japanese  have  at  least  sufficient  human  failings  to  make 
them  interesting  to  associate  with. 

One  thing  is  essential  to  mutual  friendship  between  our  two  peoples. 
That  essential  is  understanding.  Let  Americans  acquaint  themselves  with 
the  Japanese  point  of  view.  They  will  find  that  Japan’s  problems  do  not 
grow  out  of  sordid  ambition  or  mere  self-seeking.  Japan,  like  America,  is 
responsive  to  the  innate  demand  for  the  preservation  of  self  and  ideals. 
This  is  our  common  instinct.  It  unites  us  as  allies  against  the  forces  of 
ruthless  aggression.  Let  us  stand  firm  in  the  hour  of  trial.  As  leaders  of 
civilization,  each  in  a great  hemisphere,  may  we  soon  cooperate  in  the  work 
of  reconstruction,  in  the  healing  of  national  wounds  and  in  educational  and 
humanitarian  work  in  the  Orient.  , 

Governor  Whitman  was  the  first  speaker  Mr.  Russell  called  upon.  He 
praised  the  stand  of  the  Japanese  people  in  the  world  war  and  emphasized  the 
fact  that  America  stood  solidly  behind  President  Wilson  He  said: 


80 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


I wish  to  express  my  admiration  of  the  stand  which  the  people  of 
Japan  have  taken  in  the  great  world  crisis.  We  are  glad  that  the  people 
of  Japan  are  with  us  in  this  struggle,  ^^'e  are  with  them  as  we  are  with 
the  people  across  the  sea.  \\'e  are  with  them  because  we  and  they  are 
fighting  for  the  cause  of  humanity,  the  cause  of  civilization,  and  the  cause 
of  right. 

These  representatives  of  Japan  have  been  welcomed  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States  and  they  have  learned  that  today  President  Wilson  is 
the  ruler  of  a united  people,  ready  to  follow  his  leadership  as  they  never 
have  before  and  to  show  the  world  that  the  President  meant  what  he  said. 
Because  of  this  we  are  with  him  with  our  lives,  our  hearts  and  our  fortunes. 

Dr.  John  H.  Finley,  State  Commissioner  of  Education,  said  that  Japan’s  flag 
typified  the  rising  sun  and  that  America’s  flag  was  similar  to  the  stars  in  the 
heavens  He  suggested  that  Japan  might  fly  the  Stars  and  Stripes  as  a re- 
minder of  the  coming  night  and  that  America  might  decorate  her  houses  with 
the  Japanese  flag  as  a reminder  of  the  morrow. 

Dr.  Finley  exhibited  an  American  flag  which  was  the  first  ever  made  by 
Japanese  hands  and  which  had  been  presented  to  Commodore  Perry  when  he 
visited  Japan  and  brought  its  isolation  to  an  end. 

When  President  Russell  arose  to  introduce  Viscount  Ishii  the  applause  was 
tumultuous.  Repeatedly  bowing,  the  visitor  waited  for  a oause  in  the  welcom- 
ing, and  said : 

Mr.  President,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  members  of  the  Japan  Society  of 
New  York ; It  affords  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  meet  you  here  today  and  to 
have  this  opportunity  of  addressing  you.  I bring  to  you  from  your  branch 
organization  and  the  people  of  Japan  a message  of  greeting,  together  with  the 
assurance  that  we  have  watched  with  deep  interest  growth  of  this  splendid 
organization,  and  the  ever  increasing  good  work  you  are  doing  in  the  cause 
of  good  understanding  between  the  peoples  of  our  two  countries. 

I thank  you  on  behalf  of  my  associates  and  for  myself  for  your  most 
gracious  words  of  welcome ; your  allusion  to  what  this  Mission  has  ac- 
complished and  may  accomplish  for  the  future  relations  of  Japan  and 
America  naturally  is  most  gratifying  to  me.  If  we  have  made  new  friends, 
if  we  have  succeeded  in  exposing  to  the  American  people  the  main  causes 
of  our  mutual  misunderstandings  in  the  past,  and  if,  as  a result  of  this  visit, 
the  two  peoples  become  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  distrust,  suspicion  and 
doubt  are  the  result  of  careful  German  culture  throughout  the  last  ten  years, 
_we  will  have  done  much  for  ourselves  and  for  you. 

The  strange  thing  about  all  this  muddle  of  misunderstanding  in  the 
past  /ears  is  that  we  have  discovered  a common  characteristic  in  both 
peoples.  We  have  both  been  too  confiding,  and  at  the  same  time  too  sus- 
picious and  sensitive.  We  have  harbored  the  German  and  we  have  received 
him  as  a mutual  friend.  His  marvelous  self-centered  and  ordered  existence, 
his  system,  his  organization  and  his  all  pervading  self-assertion  have  ap- 


NEW  YORK 


81 


pealed  to  us,  until  in  a state  of  hypnotic  sleep  we  have  allowed  him  to  bring 
us  into  mutual  misunderstanding.  The  agent  of  Germany  in  this  country 
and  in  ours  has  had  as  his  own  purpose  the  feeding  of  our  passions,  our 
prejudices  and  our  distrust  on  a specially  prepared  German  concoction. 
This  is  not  a picture  overdrawn.  It  is  true. 

The  Americans  must  now  understand  the  Japanese  as  the  Japanese 
must  now  understand  the  Americans.  True,  our  language  differs,  our  stand- 
ards are  not  quite  the  same,  and  our  lives  are  cast  on  different  lines ; but 
the  human  heart  all  the  world  over  is  just  the  same,  provided  the  great 
tenets  of  honor,  right  and  justice  have  been  instilled  into  a nation’s  or  a 
people’s  mind  through  the  centuries  and  the  generations  of  time.  The  test 
of  our  relations  comes  in  the  sacrifices  we  are  ready  to  make  when  interest 
and  profit  run  counter  to  honor  and  right.  That  test  has  been  applied  in 
the  past,  as  it  must  be  applied  in  the  future,  and  we  of  Japan  have  neither 
doubt  nor  fear  but  that  when  the  sharpest  test  is  put  on  this  great  country’s 
friendship  American  honor  will  stand  the  heaviest  strain. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  there  are  no  differences  between  us  save  those 
differences  which  always  arise  and  are  easily  settled  between  the  best  of 
friends,  being  without  a thought  of  suspicion  or  distrust. 

We  shudder  to  look  around  us  now  at  the  menace  we  have  so  narrowly 
escaped;  but  in  the  ordering  of  this  wonderful  world  in  which  we  live,  a 
common  need  in  a world  holocaust  of  horror  has  brought  us  close  together, 
drawn  by  the  swords  of  human  sympathy,  human  love  of  justice  and  human 
love  of  liberty,  and  because  of  our  mutual  danger  in  the  past,  and  because 
of  our  mutual  needs  in  the  future  there  need  be  no  fear  of  the  loosening  of 
the  golden  cord  that  now  and  forever  holds  Japan  to  America. 

A Trip  to  West  Point 

The  members  of  the  Japanese  Mission  left  the  home  of  their  host,  Elbert  H. 
Gary,  early  on  Saturday  morning,  September  29,  for  a trip  to  West  Point. 
Viscount  Ishii  and  his  party  were  ready  at  the  minute  set  for  departure  at  ten 
o’clock  on  the  yacht  Alicia,  which  left  from  the  foot  of  West  80th  Street. 

The  visitors  were  accompanied  by  members  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  Mayor's  reception  committee,  including  Judge  Elbert  H.  Gary,  Major  General 
Daniel  Appleton,  Captain  Burley  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  Deputy  Police  Com- 
missioner Godley,  George  T.  M’ilson  and  Dock  Commissioner  R.  A.  C.  Smith. 
The  Alicia  had  a cheering  convoy  in  the  steamboat  Washington  Irving,  which 
the  Hudson  River  Day  Line  sent  to  West  Point  to  carrv  the  crowds  that  wanted 
to  see  the  distinguished  visitors. 

A bright  autumn  day  put  the  scenery  at  its  best,  and  the  bright  colors  of 
the  changing  foliage  added  the  touches  of  the  season.  The  Japanese,  accus- 
tomed. as  they  were,  to  the  views  and  vistas  of  Japan,  still  had  eyes  to  appre- 
ciate the  Hudson  River  country. 

An  incident  of  the  trip  which  pleased  the  Japanese  occurred  opposite 


82 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Ossining,  where  stone  quarrying  was  in  progress.  The  workmen,  hearing  of 
the  approach  of  the  Alicia,  held  back  their  blasting  until  the  yacht  was  within 
sight  and  hearing.  Then,  with  a great  explosion  that  sent  the  earth  and  rock 
flying  through  the  air,  a big  blast  was  set  off  as  an  impromptu  salute. 

Colonel  Tillman,  Superintendent  of  the  Academy,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Guy 
V.  Henry,  Commandant  at  the  Point,  and  Captain  D.  H.  Torrey,  Adjutant,  met 
the  yacht  at  the  West  Point  landing,  with  the  crack  negro  troopers  under  com- 
mand of  Captain  J.  K.  Brown.  The  visitors  went  direct  to  the  parade  ground 
and  the  review  took  place. 

\oscount  Ishii  and  the  members  of  the  Mission  stood  on  the  parade  ground, 
visibly  interested  and  impressed,  while  in  three  battalions  the  748  cadets  marched 
by  in  review.  When  the  last  line  had  passed  the  Viscount  turned  impulsively 
to  Colonel  Tillman  and  exclaimed:  “What  spirit  they  have!  They  march  like 

men  in  earnest.” 

Other  members  of  the  Mission  echoed  their  leader’s  sentiments,  and  Vis- 
count Ishii  repeated  what  he  had  said,  and  added  to  it  many  times  before  the 
day  was  over. 

The  return  to  New  York  w^as  by  motor  along  the  west  shore,  through  Bear 
Mountain  Park,  and  so  on  down  to  Dyckman  Street  Ferry. 


X 


NEW  YORK— II 


Municipal  Banquet 

The  return  to  town  from  West  Point  was  in  ample  time  to  dress  for  the 
dinner  given  by  the  Mayor  for  the  City  of  New  York,  the  event  of  the  evening, 
and  culmination  of  the  municipal  courtesies  to  the  Mission. 

The  banquet  hall  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria  never  held  a larger  company  of 
dinner  guests  nor  presented  a more  brilliant  picture.  Over  eight  hundred  sat 
down,  and  they  included  the  flower  of  New  York’s  intellectual,  financial  and 
commercial  leaders.  Ladies  filled  the  boxes.  The  Mayor’s  reception  committee 
was  present  in  force  w^earing  the  special  medals  struck  in  honor  of  the  occa- 
sion. The  best  of  feeling  prevailed.  Mayor  Mitchel  presided  with  Viscount 
Ishii  seated  on  his  right  and  Ambassador  Sato  on  his  left.  Charles  Evans 
Hughes  and  ex-President  William  Howard  Taft  occupied  seats  on  the  dais. 

When  Mayor  Mitchel  arose  to  open  the  oratorical  portion  of  the  evening, 
the  whole  company  arose  as  at  a preconcerted  signal  and  cheered,  waving  arms 
and  napkins,  and  kept  it  up  for  eight  minutes,  successive  waves  of  applause 
being  led  by  IMr.  Taft  and  Mr.  Hughes.  This  display  of  feeling  was  a com- 
pliment to  Mayor  Mitchel’s  brilliant  quality  of  playing  the  host  for  New  York 
during  the  visit  of  so  many  foreign  war  missions.  Several  endeavors  of  Mr. 
Mitchel  to  breathe  his  thanks  were  signals  for  renewed  cheering.  At  length  he 
succeeded  in  saying  a few  heartfelt  words,  and  proceeded : 

Sixty-four  years  ago  America  sent  to  secluded,  isolated,  insular  Japan 
a message  of  friendship  and  good  will ; sixty-three  years  ago  Japan,  through 
Emperor  Mutsuhito,  and  the  United  States,  through  Commodore  Perry, 
concluded  a treaty  of  commerce  and  of  friendship.  The  first  article  of  that 
treaty  reads  as  follows : 

There  shall  be  a perfect,  permanent  and  universal  peace,  and  a sin- 
cere and  cordial  amity  behoeen  the  United  States  of  America  on  the 
one  part  and  the  Empire  of  Japan  on  the  other  part,  and  between  their 
people,  respectively,  zvithont  exception  of  persons  or  places. 

Such  was  the  beginning  of  an  international  friendship,  that  has  stood 
the  shocks  of  time,  has  survived  the  irritation  of  local  issues  and  disputes, 
has  persisted  despite  all  efforts  of  jingoes  on  either  side  of  the  Pacific  to 


84 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


create  reciprocal  misunderstanding  and  destroy  the  cordiality  of  half  a 
century. 

But  the  import  of  the  message  Perry  bore  Japan  in  1853  was  not  friend- 
ship merely.  The  results  of  the  treaty  that  he  signed  were  not  confined  to 
trade  or  commerce.  It  was  the  message  of  western  civilization,  of  western 
science,  of  western  progress  knocking  at  the  door  of  the  older,  more  re- 
served. more  secluded  civilization  of  the  East.  And  the  treaty  meant  an 
intercliange,  not  of  wares  and  products  only,  but  of  learning,  of  science 
and  of  culture. 

From  this  contact,  out  of  these  exchanges,  we  of  America  pride  and 
congratulate  ourselves,  came  something  of  the  inspiration  that  has  spurred 
the  native  genius  and  capacity  of  Japan  to  the  marvelous  development  from 
an  insular  and  isolated  people,  to  a great,  first  class  world  power,  equaling 
in  science,  in  progress  and  in  modern  thought  any  people  of  the  earth. 

Out  of  an  unbroken  friendship  of  more  than  sixty  years  the  people 
of  New  York,  speaking  as  the  most  representative  community  of  the  Union, 
offer  to  the  people  of  Japan,  upon  their  achievements,  upon  their  progress, 
upon  their  eminence  in  world  affairs,  their  congratulations,  their  respect, 
their  admiration. 

Today,  however,  Japan  and  the  United  States  are  more  than  friends. 
They  are  allies  in  the  mightiest  struggle  the  world  has  ever  known — the 
death  grapple  of  democracy  with  the  forces  of  autocratic  conquest.  In  that 
struggle  we  are  federated  by  the  bond  of  like  ideals,  by  a common  purpose, 
and  by  a democracy  that  lies  deeper  than  forms  of  government  and  finds 
its  essence  in  a devotion  to  liberty  and  justice,  to  equality,  to  fair  dealing, 
to  the  principles  of  humanity,  and  which  bows  to  the  dictates  of  a national 
conscience  guided  by  the  great  principles  of  right  and  wrong. 

Because  we  are  today  brothers  in  arms,  Comrades  in  the  field  and  on 
the  sea,  Japan  has  sent  to  us  this  distinguished  Commission  of  her  great 
statesmen,  to  confer  on  the  conduct  of  the  war.  We  greet  them  as  friends ; 
we  hail  them  as  allies ; we  welcome  them  as  the  representatives  of  a mighty 
people ; we  esteem  it  an  honor  to  entertain  His  Excellency  Viscount  Ishii, 
.Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary,  who  leads  this  Mission ; 
His  Excellency  Air.  Aimaro  Sato,  the  Japanese  Ambassador  to  the  United 
States ; Vice  Admiral  Takeshita,  and  Commander  Ando  of  the  Imperial 
Japanese  Navy;  Alajor  General  Sugano  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tanikawa 
of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Army. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  when  in  1858  Secretary  Seward  was  taking  leave 
of  the  Japanese  Commission  that  visited  our  country  in  that  year,  he  said 
to  the  distinguished  statesman,  who  headed  that  Commission,  “I  hope  your 
reception  in  this  country  has  been  such  that  you  will  be  glad  to  come  again, 
and  that  without  much  delay.”  Gentlemen,  we  repeat  that  message  tonight 
to  our  distinguished  guests  from  Japan.  We  hope  that  your  reception  has 
been  such  that  it  will  lead  you  to  come  to  us  soon  again. 

We  in  New  York,  gentlemen  of  the  Commission,  have  followed  the 
activities  of  Japan  in  this  war;  we  know  the  important  part  that  she  has 
played ; we  watched  the  successful  blockade  of  Kiaochow,  and  rejoiced  with 
you  in  the  reduction  of  that  commanding  enemy  base.  We  followed  the 


NEW  YORK 


85 


operation  of  your  fleets  and  armies  as  they  successfully  destroyed  German 
power  in  the  South  Seas ; we  know  of  your  safe  conduct  of  Australian  and 
New  Zealand  transports  to  the  theatre  of  operations  on  the  western  front 
of  Europe;  we  know  that  to  Japan  was  committed  the  task  of  keeping  open 
the  channel  of  communication  between  Europe  and  the  Far  East,  and  how 
splendid,  how  complete,  has  been  her  accomplishment ; we  know  that  to 
Japan  is  due  the  credit  for  sweeping  from  the  Pacific,  the  Red  Sea,  the  Indian 
Ocean,  the  last  vestige  of  German  power,  with  the  consequent  release  of 
the  entire  power  of  the  European  Allied  navies  for  their  great  task  in 
Atlantic  and  European  waters.  And  now  we  learn  that  the  navy  of  Japan 
is  cooperating  in  Mediterranean  waters  to  control  the  treacherous  sub- 
marine. And,  finally,  we  know  how  the  people  of  Japan  have  helped  sup- 
port the  Allied  loans,  and  how  the  factories,  the  plants,  the  industry  of 
Japan,  have  supplied  to  Europe,  and  particularly  to  Russia,  arms  and  war 
munitions. 

All  this  we  know,  and  for  all  her  splendid  service  to  civilization,  to 
democracy,  to  America,  we,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  are  grateful 
to  Japan. 

Let  it  be  said  also,  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  New  York,  that  we  offer 
our  homage  and  our  grateful  respect  for  the  unswerving  loyalty  of  Japan, 
our  ally,  to  the  Allied  cause.  How  complete  that  loyalty,  how  firm  and  true 
the  attitude  of  Japan,  were  demonstrated  a few  months  ago  by  the  publi- 
cation of  the  notorious  Zimmerman  note.  The  people  of  Japan  spontane- 
ously condemned  and  spurned  the  preposterous  plot.  It  was  to  be  expected 
of  a nation  that  has  ever  put  first  among  the  virtues  honor  and  loyalty,  fair 
dealing  and  good  faith. 

Gentlemen,  what  we  have  begun  we  must  carry  to  a victorious  con- 
clusion. Japan  is  pledged  to  make  no  separate  peace ; it  needs  no  pledge, 
for  the  honor  of  Japan  is  sufficient  guarantee.  America  is  likewise  pledged 
— not  by  treaty  but  by  the  highest  principles  that  govern  the  acts  of  men — 
by  honor,  by  her  ideals,  by  the  dictates  of  her  conscience. 

Through  the  splendid  utterances  of  President  Wilson,  utterances  that 
have  sounded  around  the  world,  utterances  that  will  rank  for  all  time 
among  the  great  state  papers,  the  position  of  America  has  been  made  plain. 
He  has  told  why  America  took  her  stand  with  the  Allies  on  the  side  of 
humanity  and  of  the  right,  and  why  America  will  not  stop  until  the  world 
is  made  safe  for  democracy,  until  there  is  protection  for  the  weak  and  for 
the  law  abiding,  and  until  a lasting  peace,  founded  upon  justice  and  on 
the  reparation,  is  brought  to  all  the  peoples  of  the  earth. 

We  shall  go  on  and  we  shall  win.  The  progress  of  mankind  can  not 
be  turned  back.  The  world  must  and  shall  be  made  safe  for  small  nations, 
for  peace  loving  peoples,  for  the  institution  of  self-government.  Democ- 
racy, justice,  humanity  and  law  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth. 

It  is  the  task  of  America  and  of  Japan — every  day  it  becomes  more 
our  task — to  contribute  all  we  have  of  money,  munitions,  men  and  effort 
to  save  civilization  and  the  world  from  the  onslaught  of  ruthless  barbarism, 
from  the  attack  of  an  autocratic  power  that  knows  no  justice,  law,  humanity 
or  mercy,  nor  any  dictates  save  the  dictates  of  self-interest,  of  cruelty  and 
passion. 


86 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Shall  we  discharge  this  high  duty  that  is  laid  upon  us?  Gentlemen  of 
Japan,  we  pledge  you  our  unyielding  effort.  We  know  we  may  rely  on 
.yours. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  this  is  the  last  of  the  great  war  missions  from 
our  allies  that  wdll  visit  us,  and  what  a wonderful  procession  of  distin- 
guished men  it  has  been!  From  Joffre  and  Balfour  and  Viviani,  the  Prince 
of  Udine,  Ambassador  Bakhmeteff,  Baron  Moncheur,  and  now  Viscount 
Ishii  and  his  associates  in  this  Mission.  What  an  inspiration  America  must 
find  from  the  contact  of  these  men  who  know  what  this  war  means  and 
realize  its  significance  to  their  countries  and  to  us. 

And  now  the  time  has  come  for  America  to  lift  up  her  soul  to  the 
high  places  of  self-sacrifice,  and  if  she  must  sacrifice'  the  lives  of  many  of 
her  children  upon  the  altar  of  democracy  and  liberty,  she  will  face  that 
duty  w'ith  unflinching  courage  and  with  a devotion  that  is  single  to  the 
ideals  of  America,  and  to  the  flag  that  represents  the  aspirations  of  our 
country ; for,  gentlemen,  under  the  providence  of  God,  we  can  not,  and 
we  shall  not,  fail ! 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  a year  ago  one  of  our  most  distinguished  citi- 
zens paid  a visit  to  Japan.  It  was  a visit  not  of  business,  private  or  official. 
But  there  he  was  received  with  distinguished  honors  and  great  courtesy 
because  he  was  a representative  citizen  of  the  United  States.  It  was  fitting 
that  he  should  be  requested  to  serve  upon  this  committee  to  speak  to  this 
Mission  when  they  visited  us,  on  behalf  of  the  unofficial  citizenship  of  New 
York,  and  now  I have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  to  you  the  chairman  of 
the  committee-.  Judge  Gary. 

Judge  Elbert  H.  Gary  arose  and  said; 

Mr.  Mayor,  Viscount  Ishii,  and  associates,  and  gentlemen : I am  not 

going  to  make  a speech.  I have  assisted  in  arranging  for  something  better. 
It  isn't  necessary  for  me  to  repeat  that  the  sentiment  of  the  citizens  of  New 
York  is  favorable  to  the  people  of  Japan,  for  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  asso- 
ciates on  the  Commission  have  come  into  the  presence  of  millions  of  people, 
citizens  of  New  York,  during  the  last  few  days.  The  attitude,  the  words, 
the  acts  and  the  very  expressions  of  the  people  have  furnished  convincing 
evidence  of  the  feeling  of  friendship  on  the  part  of  all  for  the  Commission 
and  for  the  great  nation  the  Commission  represents. 

Mayor  Mitchel,  turning  toward  former  President  Taft,  said: 

In  1904  the  Lffiited  States  sent  to  Japan  her  Secretary  of  War.  He 
had  the  reputation  of  being  a great  traveler,  so  it  is  not  strange  that  he 
visited  Japan  three  times  during  his  tenure  of  that  great  office.  It  was  the 
beginning  of  a friendship  that  as  President  he  fostered  and  cemented.  A 
friendship  that  gave  him  personal  acquaintance  with  our  distinguished  guest 
of  honor,  and  it  is  most  fortunate  that  I am  privileged  to  present  to  you 
tonight  to  greet  our  guests  an  ex-President  of  the  United  States,  the  Hon- 
orable William  Howard  Taft. 


NEW  YORK 


87 


Address  of  Former  President  Taft 

Mr.  Taft  on  arising  was  greeted  by  a whirlwind  of  applause.  He  said: 

Mr.  Mayor,  \’iscount  Ishii,  and  ladies  and  gentlemen:  In  my  early 

days  in  politics — there  was  not  much  of  that — I remember  meeting  a gen- 
tleman in  the  Nineteenth  M'ard  in  whose  candidacy  for  county  commis- 
sioner we  were  interested  with  reference  to  other  candidacies  that  were  a 
little  closer  to  our  heart,  and  we  asked  him  whether  we  could  count  on  his 
name  on  the  ticket  we  were  preparing  in  those  wicked  days  of  conven- 
tions in  order  to  give  to  the  city  of  Cincinnati  and  the  county  of  Hamilton 
such  a government  as  it  deserved,  and  he  said  that  he  was  sorry  that  he 
could  not  consent,  because  the  plan  of  campaign  looked  to  his  being  a 
sprung  candidate  for  county  commissioner.  I am  a sprung  speaker  tonight. 

I count  it  a great,  good  fortune  that  unexpectedly  I was  able  to  be 
present  tonight  to  testify  by  my  presence  to  the  profound  respect  I have  for 
the  people  and  the  Emperor  of  Japan  and  for  the  personal  privilege  of 
greeting  and  giving  a closer  welcome  to  the  old  friends  of  mine — and  I 
think  I may  call  them  such — who  have  been  sent  here  to  constitute  this 
distinguished  Mission.  But  when  I met  the  distinguished  chairman  of  the 
executive  committee  and  heard  those  sweet  mellifluous  tones  in  which  he  said 
to  me  that  he  was  not  a speaker  and  that  he  had  expressed  his  views  fully 
and  sincerely  on  the  subject  of  our  relations  to  Japan,  and  that  he  had  not 
had  the  practice  of  repeating  the  same  sentiments  night  after  night  before 
the  same  audiences,  and  he  asked  me  whether  I would  not  help  him  out, 
because  he  knew  I had — that  is  the  reason  why  you  are  subjected  to  this 
test  of  your  patience  and  that  is  why  I am  a sprung  candidate.  There  have 
been  times  when  I didn’t  spring  very  far. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  is  a profound  pleasure  for  me  to  be  present 
to  testify  to  the  importance — for  I know  it — the  importance  of  this  Com- 
mission and  the  importance  of  the  preservation  of  the  strong  bond  of 
friendship  between  the  United  States  and  Japan  that  has  prevailed  since 
Commodore  Perry  and  Townsend  Harris,  the  Consul  General,  brought  about 
the  relations  between  that  Empire  and  this  country.  I am  quite  sure  I don’t 
overstate  it  when  I say  that  the  statesmen  of  Japan  and  the  people  of  Japan 
have  looked  upon  the  United  States  as  their  friend  and  their  helper  in  the 
wonderful  progress  that  they  have  made  since  that  time  from  the  position 
they  then  occupied  to  the  front  rank  of  nations.  That  bond  was  valuable 
to  us  and  was  valuable  to  them. , It  is  the  duty  of  every  loyal  American 
to  keep  it  as  sacred  as  possible,,  and  to  do  nothing  to  weaken  it.  I am  glad 
to  have  the  opportunity  to  say  to  these  distinguished  gentlemen  that  there 
are  in  this  country,  perhaps  there  are  in  Japan,  but  we  know  it  better  in 
this  country,  there  are  a great  many  people  w'ho  are  much  more  conspicu- 
ous and  notorious  than  they  are  important.  We  know,  that  it  is  not  wise 
to  go  to  one  corner  of  the  country,  or  one  state,  to  find  out  what  the  moving 
spirit  and  w'hat  the  opinion  of  the  American  people  is.  It  has  fallen  to 
my  lot,  and  a fortunate  lot  it  is,  to  have  visited  Japan  five  times.  There 
is,  if  you  will  only  w'ait,  ahvays  an  opportunity  to  get  even.  It  comes  to 
you.  Japan,  take  it  altogether,  is  the  most  hospitable  country  I kiiow  of 


88 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


in  the  world.  They  strain  your  capacity,  and  fifteen  years  ago  I had  a 
good  deal  in  that  direction.  I have  exchanged  compliments  with  the  dis- 
tinguished Viscount  and  the  Admiral,  between  whom  I have  had  the  honor 
to  sit,  and  called  to  their  minds  that  if  they  think  the  morning,  noon  and 
night  entertainments  that  they  have  had  between  the  western  states  and 
Washington,  and  West  Point  and  New  York,  seem  pretty  strong,  they 
should  think  of  what  they  subject  their  guests  to  in  Japan.  And  as  that 
was  an  expression  of  sincere  hospitality  and  a desire  to  welcome  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  United  States,  so  this  is  to  be  regarded  by  them,  in  spite 
of  the  physical  endurance  that  it  involves,  as  a real  expression  of  the  ear- 
nest welcome  of  the  American  people  and  our  heartfelt  desire  to  maintain 
that  long  time  friendship  that  has  existed  between  us  since  Japan  became 
one  of  the  family  of  nations  and  developed  that  discipline  of  her  people, 
and  that  character  as  a nation,  and  that  respect  for  honor  and  morality, 
internationally,  that  has  given  her  the  place  she  is  entitled  to  hold  among 
the  nations  of  the  world. 

In  Mr.  Roosevelt's  administration,  with  the  aid  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment and  Mr.  Straus,  who  is  here  tonight,  what  was  called  a “gentleman’s 
agreement’’  was  made,  and  then  in  my  administration  the  treaty  which  then 
existed  had  substituted  for  it  another  treaty,  and  into  that  treaty  was  incor- 
porated that  same  “gentleman’s  agreement’’ ; and  it  is  only  the  truth  of 
history  to  say  that  that  agreement  by  the  gentlemen  of  Japan  has  been  kept 
as  gentlemen  keep  agreements.  And  they  are  here  as  one  of  the  Com- 
missions of  Allies  in  this  great  war  that  confronts  us. 

We  owe  much  to  these  Allies.  For  three  years  they  have  been  fight- 
ing our  fight ; they  have  made  the  sacrifices ; they  have  given  up  the  lives 
of  their  dear  ones ; they  have  contributed  the  billions  that  have  enabled 
them  to  carry  on  this  fight  against  the  serpent  of  militarism,  and  now  it  is 
our  turn,  and  now  we  have  the  burden. 

We  have  begun  right.  We  have  got  a conscription  law  that  is  so  far 
ahead  of  any  legislation  with  which  we  have  begun  any  other  war  that  we 
ought  to  thank  God  every  night  and  every  morning  that  we  have  it  on  the 
statute  books. 

And  so,  with  reference  to  the  method  of  selecting  officers,  we  have 
organized  the  intelligent  youth  of  this  country;  we  have  organized  a merit 
system  for  the  training  and  selection  of  the  best  young  men  of  the  country 
to  officer  the  army,  and  with  those  two  parts  of  our  systems  we  can  do 
anything,  and  we  are  going  to  do  it. 

You  can’t  rouse  a young  giant  like  our  country  that  has  been  thinking 
of  peace  and  the  arts  of  peace,  and  never  dreaming  of  war,  and  have  the 
giant  ready  for  action  at  once.  And  what  we  must  do  is  to  ask  our  allies 
on  the  other  side  just  to  hold  on  and  give  us  an  opportunity,  and  we  will  be 
there  within  the  year  to  do  our  part. 

This  is  a serious  matter,  a sober  matter,  a sorrowful  subject;  but  even 
in  the  most  serious  issues  there  are  some  beams  of  humor  that  force  them- 
selves into  the  atmosphere,  and  one  of  them  was  the  Zimmerman  letter. 
I do  not  know  Mr.  Zimmerman,  and  he  doesn’t  know  America  or  Texas 
or  Japan.  The  idea  that  he  suggests,  that  Mexico  should  come  over  here 


NEW  YORK 


89 


and  gather  in  Texas  and  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  and  then  should  go 
over  and  get  Japan  to  come  over  and  help  her,  would  never  have  struck 
anybody  but  a German  of  the  quality,  the  logical  quality,  of  that  old  man 
who  was  out  in  the  gold  diggings  and  met  a man  who  had  just  come  from 
New  York,  and  he  said,  “You  came  the  plains  across?  No?  You  came 
the  Isthmus  over?  No?  Ah,  then  you  came  the  Straits  of  Magellan 
through?  No?  Well,  then,  you  must  have  come  the  Horn  around?  No? 
Well,  then,  you  haven’t  arrived.” 

That  thought  of  Texas  being  incorporated  in  Mexico,  and  Joe  Bailey 
and  Burleson  and  the  rest  of  them  going  down  and  representing  them  is 
something  that  I dwell  on  fondly.  I can  not  forget  it.  And  that  is  not 
more  humorous  than  is  the  suggestion  that  Japan  would  unite  with  Mexico. 
Absurd!  It  was  made  by  a gentleman  who  labored  under  the  disability 
that  has  followed  the  Prussian  military  caste  through  this  war,  and  that  is 
bound  to  be  their  undoing.  It  is  the  abolition  from  the  minds  and  motives 
of  men  of  moral  impulse.  It  is  the  abolition  from  the  motives  of  nations 
of  international  morality,  and  it  has  led  the  German  nation  and  those  who 
have  represented  that  nation  to  the  grossest  error  in  the  interpretation  of 
the  meaning  of  the  actions  and  of  the  courage  and  tenacity  of  other  peoples. 

As  the  distinguished  Viscount  has  said  in  a speech  at  another  place, 
Germany  has  misled  us  and  has  misled  Japan.  We  have  now  come  to 
understand  her.  We  have  now  come  to  the  point  where  we  know  what  we 
have  to  do.  The  German  people  are  a great  people.  They  have  been  in- 
doctrinated and  poisoned  with  the  spirit  of  conquest,  with  the  idea  that 
might  must  prevail  over  right.  They  have  thrown  international  morality 
to  the  winds,  and  it  is  a question  now  whether  civilization  is  to  progress 
or  to  retrograde.  And  on  us,  on  Japan,  and  on  our  other  gallant  allies, 
must  fall  the  burden  of  standing  for  and  carrying  on  Christian  civilization. 


Mayor  Mitchel  said: 

Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  we  know  the  value  of  conscription,  even 
at  a dinner.  Of  the  services  to  his  nation  of  our  guest  of  honor,  we  in 
America  know  something.  We  know  that  at  the  outbreak  of  this  war  he 
served  Japan  as  Ambassador  to  France;  we  know  that  lately  he  served  as 
Minister  of  Foreign  Aflfairs,  and  there  is  a rumor  among  his  friends  that 
it  is  not  unlikely  he  is  destined  to  serve  her  in  the  still  more  important  post 
of  Privy  Counselor,  but  I will  venture  to  say  that  when  history  records  his 
most  important  service  and  achievement,  it  will  write  down  what  he  has 
done  upon  this  Mission  to  forge  still  another  link  in  the  bonds  that  unite 
our  two  countries  in  a friendship  that  no  amount  of  German  intrigue,  no 
amount  of  local  irritation,  no  amount  of  jingoism  or  of  misrepresentation 
v;ill  ever  be  able  to  sever  or  to  burst. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I have  the  honor  of  presenting  to,  you  Japan’s 
Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary  on  Special  Mission,  Vis- 
count Ishii. 


90 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


The  Open  Door 

\ASCount  Ishii’s  rising  was  the  signal  for  a splendid  demonstration  of  sin- 
cere regard  and  admiration,  which  the  envoy  acknowledged  by  many  bows.  He 
spoke  in  ringing  tones : 

It  is  with  no  light  appreciation  of  the  great  honor  you  have  done  us 
and  the  nation  I represent,  no  lack  of  knowledge  of  my  own  shortcomings, 
that  I rise  to  acknowledge  your  courtesy  and  hospitality  throughout  our 
visit  to  the  city  of  New  York.  I can  not  hope  to  meet  the  obligations  or 
to  find  words  fitting  the  occasion.  I can  only  hope  that  as  time  goes  on 
other  opportunity  may  come  to  me  and  to  my  countrymen  to  demonstrate 
our  appreciation  in  some  small  degree.  Let  me  assure  you  that  our  door 
is  open  and  while  we  can  not  ofifer  you  opportunity  equal  to  this,  the  latch 
string  hangs  outside  ahvays  for  the  man  from  New  York  and  the  man  from 
America. 

The  door  is  always  open.  It  has  always  been  open ; it  always  must 
remain  open,  not  only  to  the  guest  who  comes  to  trot  around  our  little 
island  for  a round  of  pleasure,  but  to  the  representatives  of  these  vast 
commercial  interests  represented  so  well  in  this  great  gathering  of  kings 
of  commerce. 

In  spite  of  all  the  efifort  to  make  you  believe  that  Japan,  as  she  grew 
stronger,  was  always  trying  to  close  the  door,  I tell  you  that  there  never 
has  been  an  hour  when  our  common  sense  or  our  sense  of  our  own  respon- 
sibility failed  us.  Why  close  our  door  in  violation  of  our  pledges,  or 
endeavor  to  close  our  neighbor’s  door,  when  we  are  in  honor  bound  to 
protect  it  ? The  opportunity  for  you  to  trade  in  Japan  or  in  China  has 
never  been  an  equal  opportunity  in  its  literal  sense.  As  you  went  far  afield 
and  brought  us  knowledge  of  the  West,  taught  us  how  to  grow  and  how  to 
trade,  so  we,  as  we  gained  wisdom,  knowledge  and  strength,  went  into  other 
fields  to  trade  and  to  learn.  We  went  to  China,  where  the  door  was  always 
open  to  us  as  to  you,  and  we  have  always  realized  that  there  nature  gave 
us  an  advantage.  There  was  no  need — there  is  no  need — to  close  that  door 
on  you  because  we  welcome  your  fair  and  honest  competition  in  the  markets 
everywhere.  We  are  trading  there  where  we  have  a natural  advantage  and 
where,  unless  we  are  very  stupid  or  very  inactive,  we  are  bound  to  succeed, 
and  we  are  trading  here  where  your  advantage  is  equally  and  naturally  as 
great.  I am  persuaded  that  the  grumblings  and  the  whisperings  about  a 
door  closed  in  China  by  the  Japanese  against  America  did  not  come  from 
the  broad  and  generous  heart  of  the  enterprising  American  in  New  York 
or  elsewhere,  but  as  the  result  of  ten  years  of  an  enemy’s  efYort  to  create 
prejudice  and  distrust.  Gentlemen,  I assure  you  that  a closed  door  in 
China  has  never  been,  and  never  will  be,  the  policy  of  my  government.  The 
door  is  open,  the  field  is  there.  We  welcome  cooperation  and  competition, 
all  tending  to  the  betterment  of  the  equal  opportunity. 

But  this  propaganda  of  ill  will  has  by  no  means  stopped  with  the  per- 
sistent cry  of  a “closed  door.”  Much  has  been  written  about  Japan's  policy 
toward  China  as  being  one  that  sought  only  the  aggrandizement  of  Japan 


NEW  YORK 


91 


and  the  confusion,  disruption  or  oppression  of  our  neighbor.  Here,  again, 
let  me  reassure  you.  The  policy  of  Japan  with  regard  to  China  has  always 
been  the  same.  We  want  good  government,  which  means  peace,  security 
and  development  of  opportunity  in  China.  The  slightest  disturbance  in 
China  immediately  reacts  upon  Japan.  Our  trade  there  is  large  and  in- 
creasing; it  is  valuable  to  us,  and  China  is  our  friendly  neighbor,  with  vast 
and  increasing  potentialities  for  trade.  Circumstances  for  which  we  were 
in  no  sense  responsible  gave  us  certain  rights  on  Chinese  territory,  but  at 
no  time  in  the  past  and  at  no  time  in  the  future  do  we,  or  will  we,  seek  to 
take  territory  from  China  or  to  despoil  China  of  her  rights.  We  wish  to 
be,  and  to  always  continue  to  be,  the  sincere  friend  and  helper  of  our  neigh- 
bor, for  we  are  more  interested  than  any  one  else  except  China  in  good 
government  there,  only  we  must  at  all  times  for  self-protection  prevent 
other  nations  from  doing  what  we  have  no  right  to  do.  Not  only  will  we 
not  seek  to  assail  the  integrity  or  the  sovereignty  of  China,  but  we  will 
eventually  be  prepared  to  defend  and  maintain  the  same  integrity  and  inde- 
pendence of  China  against  any  aggressor.  For  we  know  that  our  own  land- 
marks would  be  threatened  by  any  outside  invasion  or  interference  in  China. 

For  many  years  our  common  enemy  has  been  the  worst  enemy  of  China, 
as  Germany  is  the  worst  enemy  of  all  that  is  honest  and  decent  and  fair. 
Since  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  Europe  China  has  been  a hot-bed  of  Ger- 
man intrigue,  and  in  all  of  this  China  has  perhaps  been  the  greatest  suf- 
ferer. I can  not  give  you  the  positive  proofs  about  the  German  in  the 
Far  East,  as  you  have  had  them  placed  before  you  by  the  alert  authorities 
in  Washington,  but  I can  give  you  as  my  conviction  that  the  German  in 
China  is  responsible  for  most  of  the  unfortunate  occurrences  and  the  mali- 
cious widespread  misinformation  scattered  throughout  the  world  for  the 
one  purpose  of  impairing  the  relations  of  the  countries  concerned  in  China 
and  securing  the  downfall  of  China  to  Germany’s  advantage.  When  Japan 
or  America  appeared  to  make  progress  in  China  we  always  have  had  the 
sinister  rumor  of  oppression  or  the  false  suggestion  of  a policy  directed 
against  the  integrity  of  that  country ; boycotts,  which  have  cost  you,  first 
of  all,  and  then  us,  millions ; revolutions,  disturbances  and  civil  war,  have 
prevented  a development  by  which  China,  first  of  all,  and  her  honest  friends 
might  profit. 

Gentlemen,  Task  you  in  the  light  of  more  recent  developments  to  try- 
out the  history  of  the  last  few  years  and  find  proof  for  yourselves  of  how 
greatly  in  this  matter,  as  in  much  else,  we  have  been  misled. 

I am  endeavoring  to  secure  }"Our  cooperation  in  this  work  of  revision 
of  a stipulation  built  upon  misconception  and  fraud.  I am  asking  you  to 
cast  out  the  devil  of  suspicion  and  distrust  in  order  that  we  who  are  allies 
and  partners  may  rebuild  the  shattered  edifice  of  mutual  confidence,  which 
means  so  much  as  a stronghold  for  us  both.  We  are  neighbors,  friends  and 
allies.  The  Pacific  Ocean  is  our  common  highway.  It  is  dotted  here  and 
there  with  your  rightful  possessions  and  ours.  These  are  guarded  and  the 
highway  has  been  swept  by  our  ships  of  the.  pirates  of  the  seas,  so  that  our 
countries’  trade  may  continue  and  our  intercourse  be  uninterrupted.  We 
guard  the  Pacific  Ocean  together  with  our  ships,  but  more  than  this,  and 


92 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


better  than  the  ships  or  the  men  or  the  guns,  is  the  assurance  of  the  notes 
exchanged  between  your  Secretary  of  State,  Elihu  Root,  and  our  Ambassa- 
dor, Takahira,  in  1908,  in  which  it  was  mutually  agreed  and  “firmly  resolved 
to  respect  the  territorial  possessions  belonging  to  each  other  in  the  region 
of  the  Pacific  Ocean.” 

Gentlemen,  Japan  is  satisfied  with  this.  Are  you?  If  so,  there  is  no 
Pacific  Ocean  question  between  us.  We  will  cooperate.  We  will  help  and 
we  will  hold  each  of  us  what  is  guaranteed  under  that  agreement. 

The  ideals  of  America  and  the  ideals  of  Japan  lie  very  close  together. 
Indeed  the  ideals  of  all  nations  educated  and  controlled  by  the  essence  of 
wisdom  and  justice,  must  bear  a close  connection.  Thus  we  find  that  we 
have  now  and  always  had  a common  ideal  and  a common  purpose  in  the 
life  of  each  nation  and  of  each  individual.  Besides,  this  struggle  for  human 
liberty  has  convinced  your  country  and  mine  of  the  complete  solidarity  of 
interest  and  community  of  aspiration  of  our  two  nations.  Today  we  find 
ourselves  standing  together,  squared  shoulder  to  shoulder,  ready  to  sacri- 
fice everything  save  the  honor  of  our  own  name  and  our  own  nation,  in 
order  that  our  civilizations,  built  stone  by  stone,  through  the  centuries,  shall 
not  be  shamed ; to  prove  the  welding  of  that  civilization  over  the  spurious 
and  degenerate  product  of  an  evil  dream. 

It  is  not  conceivable  that  you  of  America  or  we  of  Japan,  because  of 
a false  cry  of  unstable  peace,  can  change  the  course  set  by  a star.  It  is 
not  conceivable  that,  for  some  petty  gain  secured  by  the  sacrifice  of  prin- 
ciple at  the  price  of  honor  lost,  we  can  be  brought  to  swerve  from  our 
purpose,  let  fall  the  standard  of  right,  or  break  the  bonds  of  friendship. 
It  is  not  conceivable  that  America  and  Japan,  our  ideals  one,  our  purpose 
fixed,  can  fail  in  this  great  common  undertaking. 

We  must  win,  so  that  when  the  peace  shall  ctmie  the  hosts  of  immortal 
dead  may  rest  in  honor  and  the  hosts  of  the  living  throughout  all  centuries 
to  come  may  place  the  unbreakable  seal  of  permanent  approval  upon  the 
great  alliance  of  today  which  forever  set  a whole  world  free. 

A Day  with  Japanese  Compatriots 

Sunday  brought  no  sabbath  of  rest  to  the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission.  Their 
American  hosts,  who  had  given  them  no  respite  on  week  days,  surrendered  the 
first  day  of  the  week  to  them ; but,  alas ! they  had  only  to  look  over  the  tops  of 
their  Sunday  papers  to  see  long  lines  of  their  own  countrymen — the  resident 
Japanese — awaiting  them  with  invitations  without  end.  It  was,  in  fact,  Japanese 
politeness,  long  suffering  and  patient,  coming  forward  for  its  reward.  They  had 
stood  aside  for  a whole  week,  but  now,  by  all  the  tutelary  deities  of  the  kettle, 
the  oven  and  the  cake  cup,  Nippon  would  claim  its  own.  It  was  Japanese  day 
with  the  Mission. 

Dr.  Jokichi  Takamine,  President  of  the  Nippon  Club  and ' President  as  well 
of  the  Japanese  Association  of  New  York,  and  Consul  General  C.  Yada  took 
the  lead  in  arranging  for  the  entertainment  of  the  commissioners.  They  were 


NEW  YORK 


93 


treated  with  pure  Japanese  diet  at  a luncheon  at  the  Nippon  Qub  in  West  93d 
Street,  and  an  American  dinner  in  the  evening  in  the  North  Ballroom  of  the 
Hotel  Astor. 

The  program  at  the  club  was  exclusively  for  Japanese.  In  addition  to 
the  members  of  the  ^lission  there  were  present  some  forty  members  of  the  Jap- 
anese colony  of  New  York.  Ambassador  Sato  of  Washington  was  also  one  of 
the  guests. 

Two  boys  in  uniform  greeted  the  Mission  at  the  entrance  to  the  clubhouse. 
They  were  A.  H.  Ohnishi  and  John  Edward  Kelley,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Francis 
Kelley,  dressed  as  a West  Point  cadet.  With  their  usual  courtesy,  members 
of  the  Mission,  including  Viscount  Ishii,  stopped  and  shook  hands  with  the 
little  boys. 

Consul  General  Yada,  representative  of  the  Japanese  government  in  New 
York,  was  the  official  host  at  the  club.  Luncheon  was  served  in  the  Green  Room 
on  the  second  floor.  American  and  Japanese  colors  were  used  in  decorating  the 
entire  room.  In  accordance  with  their  respect  for  the  American  Sabbath,  the 
program  at  the  Nippon  Club  was  entirely  informal.  At  3 o’clock  the  members 
of  the  Mission  left  the  clubhouse  and  went  to  the  home  of  Judge  Gary,  spending 
a few  minutes  at  a short  reception.  Afterward  they  motored  to  the  residence 
of  Hamilton  Holt  at  716  Riverside  Drive,  where  they  were  entertained  at  tea. 

From  Mr.  Holt’s  home  the  visitors  went  to  the  Music  Hall  in  Carnegie 
Hall.  There  members  of  the  Nippon  Club  and  of  the  Japanese  Association  of 
New  York,  to  the  number  of  six  hundred,  gave  them  a joint  reception.  Viscount 
Ishii  and  Dr.  J.  Takamine,  president  of  the  two  organizations,  made  short 
addresses  in  Japanese.  The  hall  was  decorated  in  American  and  Japanese  flags 
and  banked  with  chrysanthemums  and  dahlias.  The  reception  was  for  Jap- 
anese only. 

Dinner  Given  by  Japanese 

The  decorations  of  the  North  Ballroom  of  the  Hotel  Astor  for  the  dinner 
in  the  evening  were  wholly  Japanese.  Chr^^santhemums  of  golden  hue  gave 
the  dominant  tone  with  the  color  modulants  of  dahlias  and  bronze  oak  leaves 
and  judicious  use  of  the  white  and  scarlet  of  the  Japanese  flag  and  the  red, 
white  and  blue  of  Old  Glory.  Covers  were  laid  for  three  hundred.  Yet  with 
all  the  Japanese  surroundings  and  the  exclusive  Japanese  attendance,  the  inter- 
pretations of  the  speeches,  issued  as  they  were  delivered,  told  of  the  friendship 
of  the  two  nations  and  their  unity  in  the  present  war. 

Speeches  were  made  by  Consul  General  Yada,  Viscount  Ishii,  Ambassador 
Sato  and  others.  Dr.  Jokichi  Takamine  was  toastmaster.  Singing  of  the 
national  anthems  of  the  two  nations  preceded  the  banquet.  Viscount  Ishii  led 


94 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


the  three  cheers  which  followed  “The  Star  Spangled  Banner.”  The  cheers  were 
no  less  loud  and  hearty  than  those  for  Japan’s  own  song. 

Since  we  arrived  at  Hawaii  and  at  San  Francisco,  declared  Viscount 
Ishii  to  his  fellow  countrymen  and  kinsmen,  we  have  been  impressed  with 
the  truth  and  sincerity  of  the  American  people.  We  ought  to  recognize  this 
sincerity  and  return  it  equally  with  sincerity  and  friendship.  We  ought  to 
be  open  and  reveal  our  true  hearts,  our  true  feelings,  toward  this  sincere, 
friendly  land. 


Luncheon  at  the  Bankers’  Club 

On  Monday,  October  1,  Viscount  Ishii  and  other  members  of  the  Imperial 
Japanese  Mission  were  entertained  at  a luncheon  given  by  Messrs.  Stephen  C. 
Baker,  R.  Fulton  Cutting  and  William  Fellowes  Morgan,  in  one  of  the  rooms 
of  the  Bankers’  Club. 

About  one  hundred  members  and  guests  were  present.  Elbert  H.  Gary  acted 
as  toastmaster.  Seated  at  the  head  table  were  Viscount  IshiT  and  other  members 
of  the  Mission,  Ambassador  Sato,  Rear  Admiral  Nathaniel  R.  Usher,  A.  B. 
Ruddock,  C.  Yada,  Judge  Gary,  Bishop  David  H.  Greer,  General  Hoyle,  Elihu 
Root  and  Percy  A.  Rockefeller,  and  the  hosts. 

Judge  Gary,  in  introducing  Mr.  Elihu  Root,  did  not  believe  that  much 
introduction  was  necessary.  The  applause  that  greeted  Mr.  Root  on  rising  to 
his  feet  was  proof  of  this.  He  spoke  with  great  feeling  and  said: 

Your  Excellencies  and  gentlemen : I am  under  great  obligation  to  the 

hosts  of  this  luncheon  for  giving  me  the  opportunity  to  join  in  testifying 
to  the  respect  and  admiration  and  warmth  of  friendship  for  the  gentlemen 
who  have  come  so  far  across  the  Pacific  to  extend  to  us  assurances  of  the 
friendship  of  Japan  and  for  that  great  and  wonderful  nation  which  they 
represent. 

I find  myself,  without  any  aid  or  suggestion  on  my  part,  put  down  upon 
the  program  to  speak  to  the  formal  toast  “International  Friendship.”  But 
neither  the  time  nor  the  character  of  such  a meeting  as  this  would  justify 
a long  discussion  of  that  rather  broad  subject.  We  are  in  the  midst  of  a 
transition  which  is  deeply  affecting  international  friendship.  We  are  pass- 
ing out  of  one  condition  of  international  relation  into  another  and  widely 
different  condition.  W’e  recall  the  maxim  of  Frederick  the  Great  that  a 
ruler  should  never  be  ashamed  to  make  an  alliance  which  was  entirely  for 
his  own  advantage,  and  should  never  hesitate  to  break  it  when  it  ceased 
to  be  for  his  advantage.  And  the  further  maxim  that  it  was  the  duty  of  a 
ruler,  when  he  found  the  treaty  was  no  longer  beneficial  to  his  people  to 
break  it,  for,  he  said,  “Is  it  not  better  that  a ruler  should  break  his  word 
than  that  his  people  should  suffer?”  A fine  altruistic  view  of  a ruler’s  duty 
which  regarded  a treaty  as  being  merely  a matter  between  himself  and  an- 
other ruler,  so  that  only  his  conscience  was  involved  in  the  breaking  -of  it 


NEW  YORK 


95 


and  not  at  all  the  conscience  of  his  people ; so  that  if  he  would  do  that 
violence  to  his  own  nature  which  was  involved  in  breaking  a treaty  for 
the  benefit  of  his  people  it  was  a noble  self-sacrifice.  Now  that,  in  a crass 
and  gross  way,  illustrates  the  old  condition  of  international  relation.  The 
relation  was  between  rulers,  between  sovereigns — not  between  the  people — 
and  the  sovereigns  were  pursuing  their  own  settled  policies — policies  con- 
tinued from  generation  to  generation,  always  involving  the  possibility  of 
aggrandizement,  of  increasing  power,  increasing  dominion,  and  the  people 
were  not  interested  in  the  slightest.  All  the  great  wars  that  have  convulsed 
the  world  since  the  peace  of  Westphalia  have  been,  down  to  the  very,  very 
recent  days,  wars  in  which  some  ruler  was  attempting  to  increase  his  power 
and  his  dominion  and  other  rulers  were  attempting  to  prevent  him  from 
increasing  it.  Now,  however,  the  business  of  foreign  afifairs  is  passing  into 
the  hands  of  democracies  and  the  old  evil  of  dynastic  policies  is  disappear- 
ing, for  democracies  are  incapable  of  maintaining  or  following  the  kind  of 
policy  which  has  involved  the  world  in  war  so  many,  many  times  during 
the  past  centuries.  A democracy  can  not  in  its  very  nature  pursue  such  a 
policy.  The  mere  necessity  of  discussion,  public  discussion,  in  order  to 
secure  the  appropriations,  the  expenditures,-  of  money,  and  the  action  of 
public  representatives,  the  mere  necessit}^  for  discussion  is  destruction  of 
such  policies.  But  we  are  running  into  other  difificulties.  Democracies  have 
their  dangers,  and  they  have  their  dangers  in  foreign  afifairs,  and  these 
dangers  arise  from  the  fact  that  the  great  mass  of  people  haven’t  the  time 
or  the  opportunity,  or,  in  most  cases,  the  capacity  to  study  and  understand 
the  intricate  and  complicated  relations  which  exist  necessarily  between  na- 
tions. And  being  so  situated  that  they  can  not  study  the  relations,  can  not 
become  familiar  with  the  vast  mass  of  facts  which  they  involve,  can  not 
become  familiar  with  the  characters  and  purposes  of  other  nations,  they  are 
peculiarly  open  to  misrepresentation  and  misunderstanding.  The  great 
danger  to  international  relations  with  the  democracies  is  misunderstanding 
— a misunderstanding  of  one’s  own  rights ; a misunderstanding  of  one’s 
own  duties,  and  of  the  rights  and  duties  of  other  peoples.  Now  we  are 
peculiarly  open  to  that  in  this  country.  We  have  been  so  isolated  from 
other  nations  that  we  have,  in  general,  but  very  slender  information  regard- 
ing them,  and  we  are  peculiarly  open  to  being  misled.  It  is  only  a very 
few  years  since  the  people  of  the  United  States  really  considered  the  De- 
partment of  Foreign  Relations  as  a perfectly  useless  bureau  and  ambas- 
sadors and  ministers  as  of  no  practical  value  at  all.  You  would  get  a very 
large  degree  of  assent  ten  years  ago  to  the  proposition  that  we  better 
abolish  the  whole  foolish  folly,  with  all  its  fuss  and  feathers.  Now  we 
are  passing  that  condition,  but  we  are  also  finding  antidotes  for  that  evil. 
This  great  war  is  teaching  the  people  of  every  country,  even  the  dullest 
and  the  most  self-centered,  that  no  nation  can  live  unto  itself  alone.  It  is 
preaching  the  inter-dependence  of  mankind ; it  is  teaching  the  unity  of 
civilization ; it  is  preaching  the  singleness  of  purpose  that  goes  with  duty 
and  love  of  humanity  and  the  idealism  that  pervades  all  noble  natures, 
whatever  the  language  be  and  whatever  the  country  be.  In  fact,  more  and 
more  this  war  grows  to  be  a conflict  between — not  between  nations,  not 


96 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


between  this,  that  and  the  other  people — but  between  certain  principles  of 
Christian  civilization  and  the  principles  of  a dark  and  dreadful  past.  There 
never  has  been  in  this  country,  so  far  as  my  observation  and  reading^  go, 
any  more  dangerous  and  persistent  misrepresentation  regarding  the  relations, 
the  purposes,  the  character  of  another  country  with  which  we  have  rela- 
tions, than  in  the  case  of  the  relations  between  the  United  States  and  Japan. 
I haven’t  the  slightest  doubt  that  the  misrepresentations  and  the  attempts 
to  create  that  feeling  among  the  people  who  have  it  all  in  their  hands  now, 
the  attempts  to  create  bad  feeling  between  the  United  States  and  Japan, 
have  been  very  largely  the  result  of  a fixed  and  settled  purpose,  and  that 
purpose — it  seems  to  me  it  is  growing  day  by  day  more  clear — was  the 
purpose  that  formed  a part  of  the  policy  of  that  great  ruling  caste  of  Ger- 
many which  is  attempting  to  subjugate  the  world  today.  It  goes  back  again 
to  a maxim  of  the  great  Frederick,  who  advised  his  successors  that  it  was 
wise  to  create  jealousies  among  the  nations  of  Europe  in  order  that  they 
might  not  be  an  aid  to  each  other  when  an  opportunity  for  a coup  came. 
That  policy  has  been  pursued  everywhere  in  the  civilized  world.  While 
Germany  has  been  incapable  of  estimating  the  great  moral  forces  that  move 
mankind,  while  she  has  been  incapable  of  forming  a judgment  as  to  what 
the  real  temper  and  spirit  of  England,  of  the  British  Colonies,  of  the 
American  Republic,  of  the  Erench  Republic,  of  the  Italian  Constitutional 
Monarchy  were,  she  has  had  a chemical  affinity  for  everything  that  is  base 
in  its  nature.  She  has  appealed  to  all  baser  feelings  and  conditions ; she 
has  appealed  to  cupidity ; she  has  appealed  to  prejudice  and  to  all  the  lower 
passions  of  men  everywhere  in  the  world ; and  wherever  she  could  array 
evil  against  good,  wherever  she  could  destroy  content  and  neighborliness 
and  respect  for  law  and  the  desire  for  the  better  things  of  life,  there  she 
has  been  working  to  subjugate.  All  the  baser  passions  received  impetus, 
fuel,  encouragement  from  her — all,  I have  no  doubt  whatever,  to  cause 
estrangement,  if  possible,  between  the  United  States  and  Japan. 

Now  in  the  first  place,  I wish  to  express  my  own  most  grateful  apprecia- 
tion for  the  fine  and  noble  way  in  which  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  Mission,  in- 
spired and  commissioned  by  the  government  of  Japan,  have  come  to  America 
to  dispel  all  this  cloud  of  misunderstanding  and  suspicion  and  doubt.  The 
frank  and  sincere  utterances  of  the  Viscount  are  like  rays  of  sun  dispelling 
this  cloud.  There  is  very  great  virtue  in  speaking  face  to  face ; there  is 
great  virtue  in  letting  in  the  light there  is  a good  quality  in  human  nature 
which  makes  men  like  each  other  and  trust  each  other  the  more  when  they 
meet  each  other  face  to  face,  and  I think  it  certain  that  the  visit  of  this 
Mission  to  America  begins  a new  era  of  understanding  and  friendship  be- 
tween these  two  great  countries  that  look  each  other  in  the  face  across  the 
Pacific  which  will  revive  the  days  past  and  those  early  years  in  which  this 
great  republic  served  its  part  in  introducing  the  new  Japan  to  the  nations 
of  the  world.  I wish  to  say  one  other  thing.  Eor  many  years  I was  very 
familiar  with  our  own  Department  of  Foreign  Affairs,  and  for  some  years 
I was  especially  concerned  in  its  operation.  During  that  time  there  were 
many  difficult,  perplexing  and  doubtful  questions  to  be  discussed  and  settled 
between  the  United  States  and  Japan.  During  that  time  the  thoughtless  or 


NEW  YORK 


97 


malicious  section  of  the  press  was  doing  its  worst.  During  that  time  the 
aemagogue  seeking  cheap  reputation  by  stirring  up  the  passions  of  the 
people  to  whom  it  appealed  was  doing  his  worst.  There  were  many  inci- 
dents out  of  which  quarrels  and  conflict  might  have  arisen,  and  I hope  you 
will  all  remember  what  I say : that  during  all  that  period  there  never  was 
a moment  when  the  government  of  Japan  was  not  frank,  sincere,  friendly 
and  most  solicitous  not  to  enlarge  but  to  minimize  and  do  away  with  all 
causes  of  controversy.  No  one  who  has  any  familiarity  at  all  with  life 
can  be  mistaken  in  a negotiation  as  to  whether  the  one  with  whom  he  is 
negotiating  is  trying  to  be  frank  or  trying  to  bring  on  a quarrel.  This  is 
a fundamental  thing  that  you  can  not  be  mistaken  about.  And  there  nevef 
was  a more  consistent  and  noble  advocacy  of  peace,  of  international  friend- 
ship and  of  real,  good  understanding  in  the  diplomacy  of  this  world  than 
was  exhibited  by  the  representatives  of  Japan,  both  here  and  in  Japan, 
during  all  these  years  in  their  relations  to  the  United  States.  I wish  for 
no  better,  no  more  frank  and  friendly  intercourse  between  my  country  and 
any  other  country  than  the  intercourse  by  which  Japan  in  those  years  illus- 
trated the  best  qualities  of  the  new  diplomacy  between  nations  as  distin- 
guished from  the  old  diplomacy  as  between  rulers.  And  in  the  most  de- 
lightful recollection  of  those  years,  and  most  agreeable  appreciation  for 
what  you  have  now  done,  I beg  you,  my  dear  Viscount,  when  you  return 
to  your  home  that  you  will  say  to  the  government  and  to  the  people  of 
Japan  that  “The  people  of  America,  who  now  hold  their  foreign  affairs  in 
their  hands,  wish  to  be  forever  friends  and  brethren  of  the  people  of 
Japan.” 

The  toastmaster  introduced  Viscount  Ishii,  who  was  received  with  long  and 
loud  applause  and  said : 

Mr!  Chairman,  Honorable  Mr.  Root,  and  gentlemen:  It  affords  me  a 

peculiar  pleasure  to  meet  on  this  occasion  so  many  distinguished  men  of 
New  York  Before  proceeding  to  the  reading  of  my  speech  I can  not  pass 
this  opportunity  without  expressing  my  most  heartfelt  thanks  and  those 
of  my  associates  for  the  high  compliment  paid  in  such  very  friendly  terms 

by  the  Honorable  Mr.  Root.  Coming  as  it  does  from  such  a lofty  source 

we  feel  that  a great  honor  and  great  encouragement  have  been  given  to 
Japan  and  the  Japanese.  I assure  you  that  it  will  give  me  the  greatest 
pleasure  when,  upon  my  return,  I communicate  to  my  fellow  countrymen 
the  noble,  just  and  fair  appreciation  which  I know  you  all  entertain,  and 
which  is  expressed  by  your  able  ex-Senator  and  applauded  by  all  the  gen- 
tlemen present. 

The  object  of  this  gathering,  as  I understand  it,  is  to  emphasize  a 
deeper  and  more  far  reaching  interest  in  one  particular  side  of  cooperation 

between  our  two  countries,  as  indeed  among  all  nations.  No  more  practical 

or  more  effective  constructive  method  has  been  discovered  than  that  which 
begins  at  the  beginning.  So  it  must  be  with  the  construction  of  the  fortress 
of  complete  understanding.  The  children  of  a nation  must  be  given  a 
knowledge  of  the  character,  the  life  and  the  surroundings  of  other  people 


98 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


in  Other  lands.  We  must  instil  respect,  not  prejudice,  friendship,  not 
enmity.  This  is  especially  true  today  when  we  are  beginning  a new  era  in 
the  relationship  of  nations.  A great  common  cause  and  a great  common 
purpose  have  changed  the  horizon  of  all  international  relations  and  con- 
siderations. Hitherto  we  have  lived  each  and  all  of  us  more  or  less  iso- 
lated, generally  absorbed  in  our  complete  national  thought,  national  under- 
takings and  national  aspirations,  though  I do  not  fail  to  recognize  the  greal, 
value  of  what  has  been  done  throughout  the  world  by  the  efforts  of  your 
great  missionary  bodies  in  the  spread  of  information  and  the  humanities. 

International  friendship  can  not  be  secured  without  international 
knowledge,  and  international  knowledge  depends  largely  upon  international 
education  and  cooperation.  I am  thankful  indeed  to  believe  that  as  between 
our  two  countries  the  day  of  doubt  and  suspicion  is  over,  and  that  we  have 
commenced  another,  from  which  these  depressing  clouds  have  disappeared. 
The  seeds  of  truth  and  knowledge  and  confidence  will  be  nurtured  in  an 
atmosphere  of  human  sympathy,  the  plant  will  grow  and  increase,  so  that 
from  the  yield  and  harvest  our  two  people  may  draw  a great  sustaining 
and  ennobling  influence. 

Within  the  period  of  the  last  half  century  and  since  we  opened  our 
door  to  the  stream  of  Western  influence,  you  gave  to  us  of  your  best.  It 
was  more  necessary  for  us  to  learn  the  language  and  understand  the  cus- 
toms of  the  West  than  it  was  for  you  to  engraft  these  requisites  to  inter- 
course upon  your  national  life,  though  a somewhat  wider  knowledge  of  our 
language  and  a closer  insight  into  our  customs  and  our  home  lives  must 
facilitate  understanding  between  the  whole  people  of  Japan  and  the  people 
of  America.  It  is  here  that  your  educational  cooperation,  coupled  with 
your  humanitarian  efforts,  have  done  so  much  in  building  up  international 
friendship.  The  great  educational  institutions,  founded  and  maintained  in 
Japan  for  the  instruction  and  physical  well  being  of  our  people,  could  not 
have  succeeded  so  well  had  it  not  been  that  you  equipped  your  teachers 
and  your  doctors  with  a knowledge  of  our  language,  so  that  they  are  able 
to  have  a more  intimate  understanding  of  the  country  than  would  other- 
wise be  possible. 

I assure  you  that  we  are  appreciative  of  this  large  interest  you  take 
in  the  development  of  Japan,  and  we  welcome  the  vast  influence  looking  to 
a greater  interest  which  this  meeting  portends.  As  you  are  well  aware,  our 
interest  in  these  undertakings  has  not  been  limited  to  verbal  expression  of 
sympathy,  but  within  the  last  few  years  particularly  a substantial  material 
evidence  has  been  given  in  the  support  of  an  interest,  shown  in  the  propo- 
sition advanced  for  the  founding  of  a great  international  hospital  in  Tokio. 
His  Majesty,  the  Emperor,  has  himself  set  the  seal  of  high  approval  upon 
these  international  undertakings.  Our  leading  educationalists,  scientists  and 
commercial  men  have  shown  substantial  interest,  and  it  has  given  us  the 
greatest  pleasure  to  learn  of  the  splendid  support  given  to  St.  Luke’s  Inter- 
national Hospital,  which  we  all  recognize  as  an  institution  of  great  benefit 
to  us  and  which  we  believe  will  prove  of  vast  international  and  scientific 
importance. 

You  will  readily  understand,  gentlemen,  from  what  I have  said  that 


NEW  YORK 


99 


we  most  heartily  and  sincerely  sympathize  with  and  give  our  support  to  any 
movement  which  will  aid  in  the  building  up  of  better  understanding.  I 
know  of  no  way  by  which  this  can  be  done  better  than  through  an  inter- 
national cooperation  which  will  tend  to  enlarge  the  knowledge  of  the 
younger  people  of  both  nations  and  the  spread  of  that  learning  which  keeps 
the  development  of  knowledge  and  the  enlargement  of  the  fields  of  science. 
In  all  of  these  we  will  earnestly  cooperate  with  you  in  the  future.  It  must 
be  our  aim  to  secure  the  best  each  has  to  offer,  for  in  these  fields  of  learn- 
ing and  of  research  it  is  wise  that  East  and  West  should  give  and  take, 
learn  and  teach,  until  the  leaven  of  understanding  has  permeated  both. 

The  military  and  naval  officers  on  the  Mission  left  after  the  luncheon  for 
Camp  Mills  at  Garden  City,  L.  I.,  where  they  reviewed  the  troops  of  the  “Rain- 
bow Division”  in  training  there. 

Oswald  Garrison  Villard’s  Dinner 

In  the  evening  the  Mission  was  entertained  in  the  ballroom  of  the  St.  Regis 
Hotel  at  dinner  by  Mr.  Oswald  Garrison  Villard  of  the  Netu  York  Evening 
Post,  who  had  invited  some  one  hundred  leading  journalists  and  many  others  to 
meet  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  associates.  Vice  Admiral  Takeshita  was  unable  to 
take  part — was  indeed  laid  up  in  bed  with  a cold.  Among  city  officials  were 
Police  Commissioner  Woods,  Dock  Commissioner  R.  A.  C.  Smith,  Comptroller 
Prendergast,  and  Theodore  Rousseau,  Secretary  to  the  Mayor.  Among  the 
guests  from  other  cities  were  Cyrus  H.  K.  Curtis,  of  the  Philadelphia  Public 
Ledger;  Noland  R.  Best,  of  the  Continent,  Chicago;  John  Stewart  Bryan,  of  the 
Richmond  N etvs-Leader ; Richard  Hooker,  of  the  Springfield,  Mass.,  Republican; 
Clark  Howell,  of  the  Atlanta  Constitution;  Henry  M.  Pindell,  of  the  Peoria,  111., 
Daily  Journal;  Charles  A.  Rook,  of  the  Pittsburgh  Dispatch;  Truman  A.  De 
Weese,  of  Buffalo,  and  David  E.  Town,  of  the  Chicago  Evening  Post.  Some  of 
the  metropolitan  newspaper  men  were  Rollo  Ogden,  Herbert  L.  Bridgman,  J.  I. 
C.  Clarke,  John  P.  Gavit,  Herbert  F.  Gunnison,  Hamilton  Holt,  Roy  W.  Howard, 
Clark  Howell,  David  Lawrence,  James  Luby,  Henry  M.  Pindell,  Bernard  Ridder, 
Don  C.  Seitz,  Herbert  B.  Swope,  Henry  L.  Stoddard  and  Melville  E.  Stone. 
Among  other  guests  were  Brigadier  General  James  A.  Irons,  Judge  E.  H.  Gary, 
Dr.  Talcott  Williams,  George  A.  Plimpton,  Captain  William  W.  Phelps,  U.  S.  N., 
Ambassador  Sato,  Dr.  Jokichi  Takamine,  Dr.  T.  lyenaga,  R.  Ichinomiya  and 
T.  Furuya. 

It  was  a very  homelike  gathering,  despite  its  distinguished  surroundings,  the 
veterans  of  the  press  having  that  talent  for  good  fellowship  which  does  not 
easily  suffer  eclipse.  Mr.  Villard,  the  host,  read  a carefully  prepared  speech 
which  follows; 


100 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Viscount  Ishii : It  is  a great  privilege  to  have  even  a small  part  in 

welcoming  Your  Excellency  and  your  distinguished  associates  of  this  Com- 
mission to  New  York.  The  official  welcome  you  have  just  received  will 
have  demonstrated  beyond  question  the  earnest  friendship  of  the  imperial 
city  of  America.  But  it  seemed  as  if  youc  visit  should  not  be  allowed  to 
pass  without  an  opportunity  being  given  to  some  of  the  makers  of  public 
opinion  through  the  press  of  the  east  of  the  United  States  to  receive  a 
message  directly  from  you  in  this,  the  most  vital  and  most  tragic  period  in 
the  history  of  modern  nations.  Hence  this  gathering. 

The  hour  is  the  more  opportune  since  both  nations  are  allies  in  the 
greatest  struggle  of  any  time.  Surely  no  moment  could  be  more  propitious 
for  the  forging  of  new  ties,  the  strengthening  of  old  ones,  and  the  removal 
of  all  causes  of  misunderstanding  or  friction  than  the  present,  when  both 
nations  have  staked  their  financial  and  material  prosperity,  yes,  their  very 
all,  upon  the  effort  to  safeguard  small  nations  and  to  convert  to  democracy 
that  Germany  which  is  today  ruled  by  as  unprincipled  and  wicked  a ring 
of  militarists,  aristocrats,  and  autocrats,  as  ever  brought  a proud  and  mighty 
nation  to  utter  shame  and  disgrace. 

When  one  recalls  what  these  men  have  done  to  all  humanity,  the  crimes 
of  which  they  and  their  dupes  have  been  guilty,  what  misery  and  suffering 
they  have  caused  in  every  nation  on  earth,  one  trembles  to  think  what  fate 
will  be  theirs  if  there  be  such  a thing  as  retributive  justice.  There  are 
among  us  Americans  open  differences  of  opinion  as  to  the  best  means  of 
combating  this  German  menace  to  civilization,  but  I beg  Your  Excellency 
to  take  back  to  Japan  the  truth  that  no  single  American  who  understands 
and  has  at  heart  the  love  of  American  institutions,  but  is  entirely  and  com- 
pletely determined  that  the  abominable  doctrine  of  might  above  right  shall 
never  control  this  world,  and  that  the  ethical  standards  established  as  the 
rule  of  conduct  among  honest  and  honorable  men  shall  prevail  among  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth. 

We  of  the  American  press  have  been  asked  not  to  comment  upon  the 
negotiations  lately  in  progress  in  Washington  or  to  speculate  as  to  just  what 
Your  Excellency  took  under  consideration  with  our  Secretary  of  State.  To 
this  injunction  we  have  loyally  given  heed.  But  it  is,  I am  sure,  entirely 
permissible  now  to  voice  the  desire  that  in  its  every  aspect  your  Mission  has 
achieved  the  highest  success,  and  to  breathe  the  ardent  hope  that  the  scope 
of  your  activity  touched  not  only  upon  our  relations  in  war,  but  upon  those 
of  peace.  Eor  I wish  Your  Excellency  to  realize  that  there  are  among  us 
American  press  men  many  who  have  no  more  eagerly  cherished  desire 
than  to  utilize  the  existing  close  alliance  to  wipe  out  every  cause  for  friction 
and  to  so  strengthen  the  foundations  of  friendship  between  the  two  nations 
as  to  render  them  safe,  safe  beyond  the  assaults  of  demagogues  in  office  or 
of  the  press,  and  safe  beyond  any  sudden  gusts  of  popular  passion.  With 
some  of  us  this  desire  is  second  only  to  the  question  of  a just  and  lasting 
peace  as  a prelude  to  the  Tuilding  of  a better  and  a nobler  world. 

We  echo  with  all  earnestness  the  sentiments  so  nobly  voiced  by  you  at 
the  great  dinner  on  Saturday  evening,  for  those  journalists  for  whom  I 
would  speak  have  been  for  some  time  laboring — to  use  your  own  words — 


NEW  YORK 


101 


“to  cast  out  the  devil  of  suspicion  and  distrust,”  “to  combat  misconception 
and  fraud”  in  the  relations  of  Japan  and  the  United  States,  and  are  already 
at  the  task  of  rebuilding  the  “edifice  of  mutual  confidence.”  To  this  we 
shall  devote  ourselves  the  more  zealously  because  of  your  appeal  and  the 
more  eflfectively  because  of  your  assurance  that  Japan  has  no  designs  upon 
the  territorial  integrity  of  China. 

\\'e  feel  the  more  deeply  about  all  this  because  some  of  our  little  re- 
spected, or  our  little  understanding  colleagues,  have  played  the  wicked  and 
deplorable  part  of  striving  to  sow  the  seeds  of  discord.  I beg  Your  Excel- 
lency to  believe  that  this  no  more  represents  the  whole  of  the  honest  press 
of  this  land  than  it  does  the  wishes  of  the  vast  bulk  of  the  American  people. 
The  exceptions  have,  however,  impelled  the  rest  of  us  to  do  all  within  our 
power  to  suggest  ways  and  means  to  render  secure  the  ties  that  bind.  Thus, 
we  would  have  an  interchange  of  visits  between  representatives  of  every 
class  of  citizens.  We  would  have  established  within  the  United  States  an 
entirely  free  and  independent  bureau  of  information  so  as  to  make  it  possi- 
ble to  contradict  at  once  any  such  false  dispatches  as  those  which  on  this 
side  of  the  Pacific  have  represented  the  Japanese  fleet  as  having  designs  on 
Mexico  and  in  Japan  have  portrayed  the  United  States  fleet  as  having  passed 
through  the  Panama  Canal  in  full  war  panoply  bound  for  Yokohama. 

We  desire  to  have  created  a Japanese- American  commission,  or  a com- 
mission from  all  the  countries  around  the  Pacific,  to  meet  on  convenient 
ground  and  to  study  and  report  upon  all  the  problems  growing  out  of  the 
contacts  of  the  several  peoples  concerned ; we  desire  to  have  our  own  laws 
so  amended  that  there  shall  be  no  distinctions  between  aliens  of  any  nation- 
alities and  that  all  of  foreign  birth  who  come  to  live  permanently  among  us 
shall  acquire  citizenship  on  equal  terms.  We  stand,  in  other  words,  for  the 
historic  American  square  deal  to  all  comers — however  often  it  may  have 
been  honored  in  the  breach  in  the  past.  And,  above  all,  some  of  us  desire 
complete  disarmament  when  peace  comes  abroad,  that  the  cost  and  the  men- 
ace of  great  fleets  and  great  armies  shall  be  removed  once  for  all ; in  order 
that  men  shall  not  rise,  as  they  have  risen  in  the  past  in  Congress,  to  declare 
that  our  navy  is  built  to  combat  Japan’s,  or  in  the  Japanese  Parliament  to 
try  to  bring  about  the  fall  of  a Ministry  because  the  Japanese  navy  is  not 
as  great  as  that  of  the  United  States.  \Ye  wish,  I repeat,  to  remove  every 
cause  for  suspicion  and  distrust ; every  basis  for  the  belief  that  one  nation 
is  threatening  the  other. 

This  disarmament,  some  people  are  now  saying,  is  an  idealistic  dream. 
But,  sir,  it  is  the  idealists  who  are  going  to  control  this  world  when  the  war 
is  over,  those  who  are  dreaming  dreams  of  the  brotherhood  of  man,  seeing 
visions  of  social  regeneration,  of  an  equality  among  men  and  women  such 
as  has  never  before  been  attempted  on  earth.  Visionaries  and  dangerous 
theorists,  some  of  our  practical  politicians  are  calling  them,  and  he  would 
be  bold  indeed  who  would  declare  all  their  plans  to  be  practical  or  wise  or 
to  assert  that  any  clear  cut  or  approximately  complete  chart  of  the  new 
world  in  which  we  shall  live  has  been  drawn.  We  must  grope  our  way  into 
it,  trying  this  route,  essaying  that  highway,  tapping  at  each  portal,  tr>ung 
each  gateway  into  the  novel  and  the  unattempted. 


102. 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


We  shall  stumble,  we  may  be  swayed  by  fears  and  passions,  but  for- 
ward into  the  new  domain  we  shall  go.  That  is  as  clear  as  the  snow  top 
of  Fujiyama  on  a cloudless  day.  When  almost  every  nation  reports  amaz- 
ing Socialist  gains,  when  Spain,  Portugal,  Argentina,  and  even  Australia 
have  been  on  the  brink  of  revolution,  and  the  London  Times  is  alarmed  at 
the  amazing  spread  of  social  revolution  in  England,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the 
world  is  asking  itself:  Whither  is  this  all  leading  to?  No  man  is  wise 
enough  to  say ; few  can  look  beyond  the  morrow.  We  can  only  see  that 
the  world  is  in  the  grip  of  terrific  forces,  of  huge  spiritual  and  economic 
genii,  as  unwittingly  unchained  as  those  in  the  Arabian  Nights,  and  that, 
for  better  or  for  worse,  modern  institutions  are  being  recast  in  the  mold. 
The  reassuring  thing  is  that  power  is  going  out  of  the  hands  of  the  few  into 
those  of  the  many ; that  the  drift  is  utterly  away  from  the  European  im- 
perialism of  the  past  and  its  diplomacy.  ’ To  conquer  small  nationalities  or 
to  take  slices  out  of  any  thinly  populated  countries  will  be  difficult  indeed 
for  any  European  nation  hereafter. 

That  will  mean  a vast  gain  for  peace  and  good  will  among  nations,  just 
as  the  war  has  shown  the  absence  of  personal  antagonisms  among  the  indi- 
vidual soldiers.  All  of  which.  Your  Excellency,  bears  directly  upon  the 
future  relations  of  differentiated  races.  They  are  bound  to  improve,  for 
among  the  great  inarticulate  masses  there  surely  exists  no  other  feeling  save 
one  of  good  will  to  the  workers  of  other  climes  and  the  desire  to  live  and 
let  live,  each  in  his  own  pursuit  of  happiness.  Our  American  masses  will, 
I am  sure,  approve  of  any  step,  at  any  cost,  to  bring  about  better  relations 
between  our  nations,  which  goes  below  the  surface  and  seeks  the  basis  for 
permanent  friendship  not  only  in  matters  economic  and  political,  but  in  what 
may  be  inadequately  described  as  the  cultural  philosophy  of  the  two  nations, 
their  deep  underlying  beliefs  and  aspirations.  I am  sure  that  all  my  hearers 
have  been  struck  as  I have  been  by  the  devotion  of  American  or  English 
missionaries  or  residents  abroad  to  the  peoples  among  whom  they  have  lived 
for  a considerable  period  of  time.  Thus,  they  love  the  Turks,  despite  all 
the  crimes  committed  in  their  name,  and  those  who  really  and  thoroughly 
know  Chinese,  Egyptians,  and  Japanese,  and  others  whose  difficult  languages 
are  a bar  to  easy  intercourse,  love  them,  honor  them,  and  cherish  the  desire 
to  see  them  rise  steadily  to  power  and  self-knowledge  and  true  freedom. 
The  task  for  us  of  the  press  who  are  dedicated  to  friendly  relations  the 
world  over  is  to  bring  home  to  our  people  the  meaning  of  this,  which  is  the 
essential  oneness  of  humanity  whenever  we  take  the  time  really  to  know 
others  as  we  know  ourselves. 

To  this  idealism  for  the  future  there  is  coming,  I believe,  a great  army 
of  reinforcement  as  soon  as  the  war  is  over.  I mean  the  survivors  of  the 
trenches,  the  hale  and  hearty  as  well  as  the  blinded  and  mutilated.  There 
is  every  indication  that  they  will  return  determined  that  new  ways  be  found 
of  organizing  the  world  and  of  settling  its  differences  of  opinions  and  aspira- 
tions. It  is  not  possible  to  believe  that  after  the  sacrifices  they  have  made 
they  will  be  on  the  side  of  race  prejudice  or  of  hate,  of  suspicion,  of  dis- 
trust, nor  of  the  spirit  of  murder  as  we  have  seen  it  organized  by  the  Ger- 
man General  Staff. 


NEW  YORK 


103 


Whether  this  opinion  be  right  or  wrong,  Your  Excellency,  I beg  of 
you  to  return  to  Japan  in  the  belief  and  with  the  hope  that  the  outcome  of 
this  whole  world  struggle  is  certain  to  make  for  human  fellowship.  And 
will  you  not  also  say  to  your  countrymen  in  your  own  eastern  land,  the 
land  of  extraordinary  ability  and  power,  of  the  proud  spirit  that  prefers  to 
perish  rather  than  to  suffer  dishonor,  the  land  of  exquisite  art  and  rarest 
beaut}’,  that  there  are  some  in  America  who  have  no  higher  wish  than  that 
it  shall  be  said  of  them:  They  were  of  the  belief  in  the  brotherhood  of 

man  and  therefore  they  were  at  all  times  friends  and  lovers  of  Japan. 

On  concluding  his  remarks,  Mr.  Villard  introduced  Mscount  Ishii.  His 
reply  was  punctuated  at  intervals  with  a generous  measure  of  applause,  which 
reached  its  climax  when  he  explained  once  more  the  policy  of  Japan  with  regard 
to  China.  He  said : 

Mr.  \'illard  and  gentlemen : Only  such  a host  as  you  among  a multi- 

tude of  hosts  and  a wealth  of  hospitality  could  have  realized  the  particular 
pleasure  it  would  afford  me  to  be  your  guest  tonight  at  a gathering  of  this 
character.  You  are  giving  me  an  opportunity  to  express  my  sense  of  deep 
appreciation  of  the  part  played  by  the  newspapers  of  Xew  York  and  of 
America  in  this  wonderful  reception  to  me  and  my  associates  of  this  Mis- 
sion. It  would  be  unwise  for  me  to  waste  your  time,  and  particularly  un- 
wise to  talk  too  much,  especially  in  this  distinguished  presence.  I am  not 
going  to  bore  you  with  repetition  of  what  I have  already  said  in  public 
speech  in  many  places.  I have  endeavored  to  speak  frankly  and  plainly  at 
all  times,  and  while  I regret  shortcomings  of  language  and  expression,  I 
have  done  my  utmost  to  convey  the  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth  to  the 
people  of  America.  I am  indeed  deeply  grateful  to  the  press  of  this  country 
for  the  splendid  and  wholehearted  support  and  consistent  courtesy  extended 
to  us.  Gentlemen,  the  spirit  is  willing,  but  my  tongue  is  weak. 

I can  not  to  the  full  extent  tell  you  of  my  appreciation,  because  your  lan- 
guage fails  me,  and  certainly  my  language  would  fail  to  satisfy  you  if  I 
attempted  to  use  it  here.  I have  endeavored  since  landing  in  America  some 
seven  weeks  ago  to  avoid  the  use  of  idle  words  or  the  putting  forward  of 
ideas  capable  of  a double  meaning  or  which  could  be  misconstrued.  In  this 
connection,  let  me  ask  a favor  at  your  hands.  There  is  one  explanation  I 
would  like  to  make  here  before  you,  and  request  you  to  transmit  to  the 
people  of  this  country.  In  a speech  delivered  on  Saturday  night  I made 
particular  reference  to  the  policy  of  Japan  with  regard  to  China.  This  ref- 
erence took  the  form  of  a repetition  of  the  pledge  and  promise,  that  Japan 
would  not  violate  the  political  independence  or  territorial  integrity  of  China ; 
would  at  all  times  regard  the  high  principle  of  the  open  door  and  equal 
opportunity.  Now  I find  that  this  utterance  of  mine  is  taken  as  the  enun- 
ciation of  a “Monroe  Doctrine  in  Asia.”  I want  to  make  it  very  clear  to 
you  that  the  application  of  the  term  “Monroe  Doctrine”  to  this  policy  and 
principle,  voluntarily  outlined  and  pledged  by  me,  is  inaccurate. 

There  is  this  fundamental  difference  between  the  "Monroe  Doctrine” 


1(M 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


of  the  United  States  as  to  Central  and  South  America  and  the  enunciation 
of  Japan’s  attitude  toward  China.  In  the  first  there  is  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  no  engagement  or  promise,  while  in  the  other  Japan  volun- 
tarily announces  that  Japan  will  herself  engage  not  to  violate  the  political 
or  territorial  integrity  of  her  neighbor,  and  to  observe  the  principle  of  the 
open  door  and  equal  opportunity,  asking  at  the  same  time  other  nations  to 
respect  these  principles. 

Therefore,  gentlemen,  you  will  mark  the  wide  difference  and  agree  with 
me,  I am  sure,  that  the  use  of  the  term  is  somewhat  loose  and  misleading. 
I ask  you  to  note  this  with  no  suggestion  that  I can  or  any  one  else  does 
question  the  policy  or  attitude  of  your  country,  which  we  well  know  will 
always  deal  fairly  and  honorably  with  other  nations. 

As  you  must  have  notited,  I have  persistently  struck  one  note  every 
time  I have  spoken.  It  has  been  the  note  of  warning  against  German  in- 
trigue in  America  and  in  Japan — intrigue  which  has  extended  over  a period 
of  more  than  ten  years.  I am  not  going  to  weary  you  with  a repetition  of 
this  squalid  story  of  plots,  conceived  and  fostered  by  the  agents  of  Germany, 
but  I solemnly  repeat  the  warning  here  in  this  most  distinguished  gathering, 
so  thoroughly  representative  of  the  highest  ideals  of  American  journalism. 

In  my  speeches  at  various  places  I have  endeavored  to  speak  frankly 
on  all  points  at  issue  or  of  interest  at  this  time.  There  are,  of  course,  some 
things  which  can  not  be  openly  discussed,  because  of  a wise  embargo  upon 
unwise  disclosures,  but  I am  confident  that  from  this  time  forward  we  will 
be  able  to  effectively  cooperate  in  all  matters  tending  to  secure  a victory 
in  this  struggle  which  means  so  much  for  all  of  us,  and  that  throughout  all 
the  years  to  come,  differences  of  opinion  or  difficulties  arising  between  our 
two  countries  will  be  settled,  as  all  such  questions  and  difficulties  can  be 
settled,  between  close  friends  and  partners. 

I thank  you,  sir,  for  your  hospitality  and  for  your  courtesy.  I assure 
you,  gentlemen,  again  that  we  appreciate  more  than  I can  express  the  high 
consideration,  the  patriotism,  and  the  broad  and  friendly  spirit  with  which 
you  have  treated  this  Mission  from  Japan. 

Comptroller  William  A.  Prendergast  was  next  called  upon.  He  said  in 
part : 


Mr.  Chairman,  Viscount  Ishii,  gentlemen  of  the  Commission,  Your 
Excellency,  and  gentlemen : Our  host  has  asked  me  to  say  a word  of  wel- 

come to  Viscount  Ishii  and  associate  members  of  the  Commission  in  the 
name  of  the  great  city  of  New  York. 

It  would  seem  to  me  that  it  is  hardly  necessary  even  to  attempt  to 
repeat  the  very  great  pleasure  and  honor  and  happiness  that  it  gives  New 
York  to  have  you  as  its  guests. 

Now,  Viscount  Ishii,  might  I at  this  time  sound  a note  which  may  be 
somewhat  contrary  to  that  which  has  been  the  dominant  idea  of  our  dis- 
cussions upon  these  occasions?  We  have  treated,  and  naturally,  of  war. 
That  is  the  thought  that  is  uppermost  in  our  minds.  It  is  the  thing  that  is 
in  the  thought  and  the  mind  of  man,  woman,  and  child — war.  I can  say 


NEW  YORK 


105 


detestable  war,  because  war  is  detestable,  and  we  are  fighting  this  war  today 
for  the  purpose  of  driving  out  war  permanently.  That  is  the  great  object 
of  our  entering  this  war,  or  one  of  the  great  objects,  and  I am  sure  that  it 
is  also  one  of  yours.  It  was  a great  relief  to  us — a great  relief  to  the  civil- 
ized world — that  when  this  war  broke  out  you  were  in  your  position  of 
primacy  upon  the  Pacific,  there  to  guard  effectively  and  effectually  against 
the  diplomatic  depredations  that  might  have  taken  place  if  Germany  had 
been  permitted  to  do  as  she  was  disposed  to  do  in  China.  For  the  service 
that  you  rendered  in  that  respect  the  world  is  indeed  your  debtor.  But  the 
idea  that  I think  we  should  also  have  in  mind,  as  well  as  winning  the  war, 
as  well  as  prosecuting  it  to  a successful  finish,  is  this ; While  we  are  en- 
gaged in  this  war,  let  us  realize  the  ties  that  bind.  Let  us  realize  that 
brothers  in  war  should  be  brothers  in  peace ; that  what  we  have  at  interest 
in  the  war  we  will  also  have  at  interest  in  times  of  peace;  and  during  this 
struggle,  when  we  are  so  close  together,  when  we  are  fraternizing,  as  broth- 
ers should,  when  we  are  feeling  toward  each  other  as  brothers  should,  let 
us  lay  the  groundwork  of  a great  commercial  relation  that  no  contingency 
or  exigency  will  ever  disturb  in  the  future,  the  groundwork  of  a commercial 
relation  that  will  draw  us  so  close  together  that  we  will  realize  the  genuine 
ties  of  brotherhood.  That,  I think,  is  one  of  the  great  desires  of  the  Amer- 
ican people,  and  that  is  one  of  the  great  desires  that  New  York  expresses 
to  you,  at  the  conclusion  of  your  happy  visit  to  us. 

John  Dewey,  Professor  of  Philosophy  in  Columbia  University,  who  was  the 
next  speaker,  was  listened  to  with  great  intentness.  He  said: 

Some  one  remarked  that  the  best  way  to  unite  all  the  nations  on  this 
globe  would  be  an  attack  from  some  other  planet.  In  the  face  of  such  an 
alien  enemy,  people  would  respond  with  a sense  of  their  unity  of  interest 
and  purpose.  We  have  the  next  thing  to  that  at  the  present  time.  Before 
a common  menace.  North  and  South  America,  the  Occident  and  Orient 
have  done  an  unheard  of  thing,  a wonderful  thing,  a thing  which,  it  may 
well  be,  future  history  will  point  to  as  the  most  significant  thing  in  these 
days  of  wonderful  happenings.  They  have  joined  forces  amply  and  inti- 
mately in  a common  cause  with  one  another  and  with  the  European  nations 
W'hich  were  most  directly  threatened.  What  a few  dreamers  hoped  might 
happen  in  the  course  of  some  slow  coming  century  has  become  an  accom- 
plished fact  in  a few  swift  years.  In  spite  of  geographical  distance,  unlike 
speech,  diverse  religion,  and  hitherto  independent  aims,  nations  from  every 
continent  have  formed  what  for  the  time  being  is  nothing  less  than  a world 
state,  an  immense  cooperative  action  in  behalf  of  civilization. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that,  with  all  its  preparedness,  Germany  never  antici- 
pated this  result.  Even  now  the  fact  is  so  close  to  us  that  even  we,  who 
have  been  brought  together,  are  too  much  engaged  in  the  duties  which  the 
union  imposes  to  realize  the  force  of  the  new  and  unique  creation  of  a 
union  of  peoples,  yes,  of  continents.  The  imagination  is  not  yet  capable 
of  taking  it  in. 

It  has  been  more  than  once  noted  that  Germany  has  exhibited  an  ex- 


106 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


traordinary  spectacle  to  the  world.  It  has  stood  for  organization  at  home  and 
disorganization  abroad,  for  cooperative  effort  among  its  own  people  and  for 
division  and  hostility  among  all  other  peoples.  All  through  the  earlier  years 
of  the  war  the  intellectuals  of  Germany  appealed  for  sympathy  in  this  coun- 
try because  of  what  Germany  had  done  in  the  way  of  social  legislation  and 
administration  to  promote  the  unity  of  all  classes,  because  of  its  efficiency  in 
organization,  because  of  the  intelligent  efforts  it  had  made  to  secure  domestic 
prosperity.  But,  at  the  same  time,  as  events  have  since  only  too  clearly 
demonstrated,  it  was  bending  every  energy  of  corrupt  and  hateful  intrigue 
to  disunite  the  American  people  among  themselves  and  to  incite  suspicion, 
jealousy,  envy,  and  even  active  hostility  between  the  American  nation  and 
other  nations,  like  IMexico  and  Japan,  with  whom  we  had  every  reason  to 
live  in  amity  and  no  reasons  of  weight  for  anything  but  amity.  In  the  light 
of  this  exhibition,  German  love  of  organization  and  cooperative  unity  at 
home  gains  a sinister  meaning.  It  stands  convicted  of  falsity  because  born 
of  a malicious  conspiracy  against  the  rest  of  the  world.  It  loved  unity  and 
harmony,  not  for  themselves,  but  simply  as  a means  of  bringing  about  that 
dominion  of  Germany  over  the  world  of  which  its  remorseless  and  treacher- 
ous efforts  to  divide  other  peoples  are  the  other  half. 

d'he  rest  of  the  world,  of  the  once  neutral  world,  was,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, slow  to  awake  to  Germany’s  plots  and  purposes.  They  seemed  fan- 
tastic, unreal,  in  their  unbridled  lust  for  power  and  their  incredibly  bad 
faith.  It  was  especially  hard  for  us  in  this  country,  who  have  never  been 
trained  to  identify  our  loyalty  to  our  own  country  with  hatred  of  any  other, 
to  realize  that  Germany’s  genius  for  efficiency  and  organization  had  become 
a menace  to  domestic  union  and  international  friendliness  over  the  world. 
But  finally  in  North  America,  as  in  South  America,  and  in  Asia,  when  the 
case  became  too  clear  for  further  doubt,  Germany’s  challenge  was  met. 
Against  Germany’s  efforts  to  disunite  there  arose  a world  united  in  en- 
deavor and  achievement  on  a scale  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  this 
globe,  a scale  too  vast  not  to  endure  and  in  enduring  to  make  the  future 
history  of  international  relationships  something  very  different  from  their 
past  history.  In  struggling  by  cunning  and  corruption  to  separate  and  divide 
other  peoples,  Germany  has  succeeded  in  drawing  them  together  with  a 
rapidity  and  an  intimacy  almost  beyond  belief.  Nations  thus  brought  to- 
gether in  community  of  feeling  and  action  will  not  easily  fall  apart,  even 
though  the  occasion  which  brought  them  together  passes,  as,  pray  God,  it 
will  soon  pass.  The  Germany  which  seems  finally  to  be  breaking  up  within 
has  furnished  the  rest  of  the  world  with  a cement  whose  uses  will  not  easily 
be  forgotten'. 

Formal  alliances,  set  treaties,  legal  arrangements  for  arbitration  and 
conciliation,  leagues  and  courts  of  nations,  all  have  their  importance.  But, 
gentlemen,  their  importance  is  secondary.  They  are  effects  rather  than 
causes,  symptoms  rather  than  forces.  You  may  have  them  all,  and  if  nations 
have  not  discovered  that  their  permanent  interests  are  in  mutuality  and 
interchange,  they  will  be  evaded  or  overridden.  They  may  be  lacking,  but 
if  the  vital  sap  of  reciprocal  trust  and  friendly  intercourse  is  flowing  through 
the  arteries  of  commerce  and  the  public  press,  they  will  come  in  due  season 


NEW  YORK 


107 


as  naturally  and  inevitably  as  the  trees  put  forth  their  leaves  when  their 
day  of  spring  has  come.  It  is  our  problem  and  our  duty,  I repeat,  especially 
of  you  gentlemen  of  diplomacy  and  of  what  I shall  venture  to  call  the  even 
more  powerful  instrument  of  good  will  and  understanding,  the  public  press, 
to  turn  our  immediate  and  temporary  relation  for  purposes  of  war  into  an 
enduring  and  solid  connection  for  all  of  the  sweet  and  constructive  offices 
of  that  peace  which  must  some  day  again  dawn  upon  a wracked  and  troubled 
world. 

Where  diversity  is  greatest,  there  is  the  greatest  opportunity  for  a fruit- 
ful cooperation  which  will,  be  magnificently  helpful  to  those  who  cooperate. 
This  meeting  this  evening  is  a signal  evidence  of  the  coming  together  of 
the  portions  of  the  earth  which  for  countless  centuries  went  their  own  way 
in  isolation,  developing  great  civilizations,  each  in  their  own  way.  Now  in 
the  fulness  of  days,  the  Orient  and  the  Occident,  the  United  States  and 
Japan,  have  drawn  together  to  engage  in  faith  in  themselves  and  in  each 
other  in  the  work  of  building  up  a society  of  nations  each  free  to  develop, 
its  X)wn  national  life  and  each  bound  in  helpful  intercourse  with  every  other. 
May  every  influence  which  would  sow  suspicion  and  misunderstanding  be 
accursed,  and  every  kindly  power  that  furthers  enduring  understanding  and 
reciprocal  usefulness  be  blest.  May  this  meeting  stand  not  only  as  a pass- 
ing symbol,  but  as  a lasting  landmark  of  the  truth  that  among  nations  as 
among  men  of  good  will  there  shall  be  peace,  not  a peace  of  isolation  or 
bare  toleration  which  has  become  impossible  in  this  round  world  of  ours, 
not  a peace  based  on  mutual  fear  and  mutual  armament,  but  a virile  peace 
in  which  emulation  in  commerce,  science,  and  the  arts  bespeaks  two  great 
nations  that  respect  each  other  because  they  respect  themselves. 

Don  C.  Seitz,  of  the  New  York  World,  who  has  traveled  in  the  Far  East 
and  studied  its  problems,  caught  the  entire  attention  of  the  company  as  he  re- 
.sponded  to  Mr.  Villard’s  call ; 

I think  the  visit  of  the  Japanese  Commission  has  been  the  most  im- 
pressive among  all  of  those  who  have  come  to  us  from  the  other  parts  of 
the  world  as  the  outcome  of  the  great  war,  and  I think,  too,  it  has  a great 
purpose,  and  is  bound  to  have  a great  result,  because,  if  you  will  recall  care- 
fully, you  will  find  that  the  other  gentlemen  all  came  to  the  United  States 
to  get  something ; but  these  gentlemen  have  come  to  give  us  something. 

. There  is  a great  deal  to  be  learned  in  the  Orient,  and  I know  it  is  a 

trite  phrase  to  say  that  everything  is  upside  down  in  the  East,  that  all 
Oriental  ideas  are  opposite  those  held  by  ourselves,  but  in  some  ways  this  is 
an  improvement.  There  is  also  a perspicacity  among  Orientals  which  we 
lack  ourselves.  Only  recently  I had  to  sit  for  nearly  an  hour  and  listen  to 
the  efforts  of  a former  Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  to  explain 
and  vindicate  the  Monroe  Doctrine,  and  here  Viscount  Ishii,  in  the  midst 
of  many  affairs,  sizes  it  up  in  a few  words,  perceiving  that  our  fundamental 
doctrine  is  that  we  will  allow  no  one  to  lick  our  neighbors  but  ourselves. 

The  East  has  often  been  advertised  as  changeless.  This  is  wrong. 


108 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Matthew  Arnold,  you  know,  wrote  a celebrated  verse  in  which  he  said  some- 
thing like  this ; that  “The  East  bowed  low  before  the  blast,  in  silent  proud 
disdain ; she  let  the  legions  thunder  past,  and  turned  to  thought  again.” 

Now’,  take  it  from  me,  they  do  more  thinking  in  an  hour  than  we  do  in 
a week  in  the  United  States.  We  very  largely  jump  at  conclusions — and  in 
the  East  they  think. 

People  who  speak  about  the  Japanese  nation  as  a race  of  little  people 
doing  little  things,  are  misled.  A small  country,  it  preserves  its  propor- 
tions and  it  does  nothing  without  thinking.  We  do  many  things  without 
thinking,  and  often  regret  it  afterwards.  These  men  coming  here  teach 
us  of  our  w’rong  conclusions,  of  our  ease  in  accepting  false  premises,  and 
we  should  change  our  habits. 

Foreign  affairs  have  never  received  decent  treatment  in  the  American 
press  of  recent  years,  because  our  ow’n  have  been  more  interesting,  and  we 
have  not  involved  ourselves  wdth  the  troubles  of  other  races.  Now  that 
other  nations  have  brought  their  troubles  to  us,  we  are  compelled  to  know 
something,  and  I think  we  will.  The  newspapers  seem  to  me  a little  slow 
in  grasping,  and  slow  in  informing  our  people,  and  our  own  government 
has  been  remiss  in  not  letting  us  know  more,  and  the  press,  I think,  has 
been  a little  too  insistent  in  regard  to  domestic  affairs.  We  have  accepted 
the  excuse  of  war  time  to  cover  many  things  that  we  ought  to  know.  If 
you  were  to  receive  in  your  office  the  foreign  publications  from  Japan,  such 
as  the  Japan  Advertiser  and  the  Japan  Chronicle,  and  perceive  the  care  and 
intelligence  with  which  world  affairs  are  discussed  and  made  plain  to  their 
very  limited  constituency,  you  would  feel  rather  ashamed  of  your  editorial 
exhibitions.  You  would  be  surprised  at  the  amount  of  space  you  waste  in 
matters  that  are  of  no  particular  concern  in  a time  like  this. 

I think  it  would  be  a good  idea  if  every  publisher  and  editor  here  would 
subscribe  to  either  one  or  the  other,  or  both  of  those  publications,  and  make 
somebody  in  the  office  read  them.  You  know  we  have  in  New  York  city 
a circulation  of  about  a million  and  a quarter  copies  of  foreign-language 
publications;  and  I never  yet  found  an  editor  in  New  York  who  knew  a 
single  thing  that  was  printed  in  one  of  them.  Now,  they  may  be  saying 
all  kinds  of  things  about  us,  for  us  and  against  us,  and  we  ought  to  know 
what  it  is,  but  we  decline  to  do  it. 

You  know,  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  Japanese  politics,  and  the  way 
they  look  at  things  strike  us  oddly.  I was  interested  in  a recent  episode  in 
Japan.  Mr.  Ozaki,  whom  some  of  you  have  met  in  New  York,  and  who 
was  for  a long  time  Mayor  of  Tokio,  and  leader  of  democratic  thought  in 
Japan,  has  recently  gone  farther,  perhaps,  than  even  his  original  platform 
policy,  and  not  long  ago  one  of  his  constituents,  a humble  shoemaker,  feel- 
ing that  his  idol  had  gone  far  beyond  the  limits,  killed  himself  as  a protest 
against  the  democratic  thoughts  of  his  leader.  I was  wondering  how  great 
a mortality  would  follow  in  our  present  mayoralty  campaign,  if  this  practice 
were  zealously  carried  out.  How  many  children  would  have  a father  a day 
after  the  campaign  got  well  under  way  ? 

We  take  things  for  granted  here  that  they  will  not  take  for  granted  in 
the  Far  East. 


NEW  YORK 


109 


Well,  when  the  Japanese  came  forward  at  the  beginning  of  this  war  to 
join  their  first  ally.  England,  and  their  later  allies,  ourselves,  people  said 
they  did  it  without  risk.  Why,  gentlemen,  no  nation  in  the  world  ever  took 
such  a risk.  Japan  is  a land  without  surplus,  a little  land,  where  people  live 
crowded  between  the  mountains  and  the  sea ; where,  unless  the  soil  bears 
three  crops  a year,  people  starve ; where,  if  the  fisher  fleets  fail  to  come  in 
regularly  every  other  day,  there  is  little  to  eat ; where  everjiihing  has  to  be 
watched ; where  nothing  can  be  wasted,  and  where  the  population  grows 
apace.  If  they  were  to  be  blockaded,  or  shut  in  in  any  fashion,  Japan 
would  starve  quicker  than  any  nation  in  the  world.  Remoteness  is  not 
a defense  in  these  times,  as  we  ourselves  are  about  to  demonstrate.  Every- 
body is  within  reach ; and  so  they  went  into  this  matter,  not  selfishly, 
but  with  a high  idealism ; and  when  we  learned  through  the  secret  dispatches 
recently  that  the  great  German  Empire  thought  so  ill  of  the  great  Eastern 
Empire,  as  to  make  it  appear  that  it  could  break  its  word,  we  then  and  there 
were  able  to  write  for  once  the  true  value  of  German  knowledge  of  world 
affairs.  We  were  then  able  for  the  first  time  to  perceive  that  there  had  been 
a most  lamentable  breakdown  of  intellectual  and  moral  force  in  Germany ; 
and  that,  gentlemen,  is  the  thing  we  have  to  guard  against  ourselves,  because 
this  war,  after  all,  is  not  going  to  be  won  by  force  of  arms.  It  is  going  to 
be  won  by  the  sufferings  of  the  noncombatants,  and  by  the  intellectual  and 
moral  forces,  when  they  once  rally,  and  put  on  the  proper  pressure;  and 
what  we  have  got  to  look  for,  is  a rally  of  this  intellectual  and  moral  force, 
and  it  would  not  surprise  me  in  the  least,  if  this  greatest  factor  of  all  came 
from  Japan. 

An  observer  who  came  recently  from  Europe  said  to  me  that  the  most 
dangerous  thing  about  the  situation  was  not  German  militarism,  but  the 
breakdown  of  intellectual  strength  in  the  chancelleries  of  Europe.  He  said 
he  had  not  found  anywhere  among  all  the  countries  and  in  all  the  Cabinets 
men  of  strength  of  mind  enough  to  take  hold  of  this  hideous  disease  and 
bring  it  to  some  kind  of  an  end.  He  understood  it  must  wear  itself  out  in 
the  blood  of  the  people,  in  the  suffering  of  the  innocent,  and  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  property. 

Supposing  out  of  the  East  should  come  a ray  of  light  that  leads  into 
the  path.  One  thing,  at  least,  has  come.  We  in  the  United  States  have 
swept  away  forever  this  miserable  doctrine  of  distrust  that  has  come  for- 
ward day  after  day  to  puzzle  and  vex  us.  When  I was  in  Japan  the  Pre- 
mier said  to  me : “What  have  we  done  that  should  arouse  this  suspicion, 

these  endless  attacks?  We  have  met  every  request  you  made,  and  kept 
every  promise  we  have  made.  Where  does  it  come  from?  What  have  we 
done  and  what  have  you  done?”  And  I could  not  answer  him.  We  know 
now.  We  have  located  it. 

Mr.  Aimaro  Sato,  the  Ambassador  from  Japan,  was  the  last  speaker  of  the 
evening.  «He  was  warmly  greeted  and  his  concluding  sentence  evoked  a storm 
of  applause. 


110 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


A friend  of  mine  was  speaking  to  me  of  the  author  of  “Paradise  Lost" 
the  other  day. 

Some  one  asked  the  poet  if  he  were  going  to  instruct  his  daughters  in 
the  different  languages  of  which  he  was  a master.  Milton  turned  upon  his 
friend  sharply;  . 

“XM  sir,”  said  he,  with  a grim  and  frigid  emphasis;  “one  tongue  is 
enough  for  any  woman.” 

Tonight,  before  this  genial  and  brilliant  company,  I find  that  one  tongue 
is  a good  deal  more  than  enough  for  one  mere  man,  especially  when  he 
happens  to  be  a Japanese  in  the  diplomatic  service,  and  more  especially  when 
the  tongue  happens  to  be  the  English  language. 

The  fact,  however,  that  I am  actually  upon  my  feet  testifies,  with  some- 
thing of  a touching  eloquence,  to  the  witchery  of  the  hours,  to  the  magic  of 
your  friendly  presences,  and,  above  all,  to  the  compelling  lure  of  the  theme 
of  which  our  hearts  are  filled  to  overflowing  tonight — the  bringing  together 
of  the  two  great  peoples  on  either  side  of  the  Pacific  to  a heart-to-heart 
understanding.  Once  that  is  ours,  the  German  intrigues  will  be  but  an 
empty  jest,  and  the  flaming  yellow  journal  propaganda  as  futile  as  the  poison- 
gas  attack  upon  the  sun  and  the  stars. 

We  are  gathered  here — and  my  honored  colleague.  Viscount  Ishii,  is 
with  us — for  a modest  bit  of  work  which  is  nothing  short  of  wiping  the 
Pacific  Ocean  from  off  the  map  of  spiritual  and  intellectual  unity  and  com- 
munity between  the  United  States  and  Japan.  We  have  come  together  as 
good  neighbors,  you  of  America  and  we  of  Japan.  But  we  have  been  that 
since  the  days  of  your  Townsend  Harris.  Tonight  we  sit  side  by  side  as 
something  more  than  mere  friends — we  are  soldiers  of  the  common  cause. 
We  are  to  fight  for  the  realization  of  one  dream  for  the  defense  of  the  one 
and  same  political  ideal.  Gentlemen,  the  Empire  of  the  Extreme  East  and 
the  greatest  of  earth’s  republics  are  now  comrades  in  arms  against  the  com- 
mon foe.  And  that  is  somethir^  new.  For  the  first  time  since  the  Lord 
spoke  the  world  into  being  the  itars  and  Stripes  will  garnish  the  battle-red 
skyline  side  by  side  with  the  sun  flag  of  Nippon  in  a worldwide  war  upon 
militant  autocracy.  That  is  a fact  big  enough  for  history  to  take  note  of. 

Time  was — and  it  has  been  long  and  weary,  too — when  black  intrigues 
and  blatant  propaganda  against  the  American- Japanese  amity  lorded  it  over 
the  popular  sentiment  of  your  people.  In  the  very  days  when  Japan  was 
doing  her  bit  for  the  happy  consummation  of  the  Anglo-American  Arbitra- 
tion Treaty,  there  were  people  and  press  here  who  painted  Japan  as  the 
archfiend,  scheming  to  force  the  British  Empire  to  back  her  in  a wanton 
war  against  the  United  States.  Those  were  trying  days.  We  bore  them  in 
silence.  We  bore  them,  happy  in  the  profound  confidence  in  the  ultimate 
triumph  of  the  American  sense  of  justice  and  of  right.  We  bore  them  with 
the  conviction  that  no  clouds,  however  black,  however  stormy,  had  ever 
succeeded  in  putting  out  the  sun ; that  the  sunlight  is  ever  the  brighter  the 
blacker  the  storm.  But  that  time,  thank  Heaven,  is  no  more. 

And  it  is  with  a throbbing  pleasure  I note  that  the  coming  of  your  guest 
of  honor  tonight  and  his  fellow  commissioners  seems  to  mark  the  turn  of 
the  tide  in  the  American-Japanese  relations.  But  what  makes  the  visit  of 


NEW  YORK 


111 


the  present  Mission  epochal  is  not  what  it  has  already  wrought  upon  the 
sentiment  of  the  people  of  America.  The  real  significance  of  the  Ishii  Mis- 
sion is  its  effect  upon  the  tomorrow,  upon  the  things  that  are  to  come.  And 
I beg  you  to  permit  me  to  join  you  in  hailing  the  visit  of  the  Mission  as  a 
promise  and  prophecy  of  the  coming  of  a saner  day,  when  there  shall  be  no 
East  and  no  West  in  the  wider  vision  of  international  peace. 

A Visit  to  Theodore  Roosevelt 

The  morrow  found  Viscount  Ishii  ill  with  a cold  and  on  his  way  to  Atlantic 
City,  under  the  doctor’s  orders  to  rest  from  his  strenuous  labors.  Vice  Admiral 
Takeshita  had  been  obliged  to  absent  himself  from  the  Villard  dinner  on  account 
of  a cold,  but,  fortunately,  he  was  sufficiently  recovered  the  next  day  to  allow  of  his 
visiting  former  President  Theodore  Roosevelt  at  Oyster  Bay,  in  company  with 
other  members  of  the  Mission.  The  Vice  Admiral  and  others  of  the  Mission  had 
known  Colonel  Roosevelt  during  his  occupancy  of  the  W'hite  House,  and  they 
met  and  enjoyed  the  day  by  the  salt  water  in  the  guise  of  old  friends. 


XI 


HOMEWARD  BOUND 


A Message  of  Gratitude  from  the  Coast 

A farewell  statement  expressing  deep  obligation  to  the  American  nation 
was  made  public  on  November  9 in  San  Francisco  by  Viscount  Kikujiro  Ishii 
in  anticipation  of  his  departure  for  Japan  in  company  with  the  Mission  of  which 
he  was  the  head.  He  said : 

The  kindly  welcome  given  by  the  Pacific  Coast  to  our  Mission  has  found 
most  lavish  indorsement  and  emphasis  at  every  point  we  have  visited  in  the 
United  States.  It  only  remains  for  me,  as  the  parting  guest,  to  express  our 
sincere  and  heartfelt  gratitude  to  the  whole  people  of  this  great  country  for 
the  hospitality,  the  courtesy  and  the  high  consideration  we  have  received. 

. I do  not  underestimate  the  heavy  obligation  under  which  we  of  Japan 
have  been  placed  in  the  personal  debt  I owe  to  the  President  and  the  people 
of  the  United  States.  We  are  prepared  to  meet  the  obligation  to  the  limit 
of  our  ability  and  to  maintain  a friendship  and  confidence  which  is  based  and 
nurtured  on  good  understanding  and  good  neighborhood. 

We  came  with  a firm  belief  in  the  broad  and  generous  spirit  of  America. 
W’e  leave  with  a sense  of  profound  admiration  for  your  splendid  humanity 
and  patriotism,  coupled  with  your  unswerving  loyalty  to  the  high  principles 
of  the  cause  to  which  we  are  mutually  pledged. 

A Word  of  Reassurance  from  Hawaii 

Nor  was  this  all.  Reaching  Honolulu  on  November  15,  Viscount  Ishii,  at  a 
luncheon  in  honor  of  the  Mission,  declared  that  “the  attitude  of  the  United  States 
toward  the  war  insures  its  successful  termination.” 

What  we  have  seen  on  the  continent  of  America  gives  absolute  un- 
changeable confidence  in  the  final  outcome  and  complete  victory  of  our  cause,, 
which  insures  national  individual  independence. 

I carried  to  the  United  States  a message,  assurances,  and  a pledge  of 
comradeship;  a guarantee  of  partnership.  From  the  east  to  the  west  shores 
I found  the  message  and  its  purpose  accepted  and  understood  in  a kindred 
spirit.  The  barrier  of  language  was  broken  down.  I am  convinced  that  a 
good  understanding  has  been  reached  that  will  clear  the  menace  of  un- 
pleasant entanglements  hitherto  maintained  by  our  common  foe. 

We  are  proud  bearers  to  our  beloved  country  of  the  answer  from  our 
true  friend  to  the  message  we  brought. 

Viscount  Ishii  and  his  associates  arrived  at  Yokohama  on  November  26,  1917. 


XII 


VISCOUNT  ISHirS  TRIBUTE  TO  AMERICA 
THE  EMPEROR’S  MESSAGE  OF  THANKS  TO 
PRESIDENT  WILSON 


On  returning  home,  Viscount  Ishii  embraced  the  first  opportunity  to  give 
fitting  conclusion  to  the  work  of  the  Mission  he  headed  and  to  the  various  speeches 
he  delivered  in  America,  by  imparting  to  the  Japanese  public  the  impression 
gained,  during  his  memorable  tour,  of  the  very  friendly  attitude  of  the  American 
government  and  people  toward  Japan  and  of  the  “tremendously  virile  force”  at 
work  in  the  United  States  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 

The  opportunity  occurred  at  a Tokio  banquet  given  in  honor  of  Viscount 
Ishii  and  his  associates  on  December  17  by  representative  Japanese  and  Americans. 

The  proceedings  of  the  function  were  cabled  by  the  Tokio  representative  of 
the  Associated  Press  as  follows; 


Tokio,  Dec.  17.  Viscount  Kikujiro  Ishii,  head  of  the  Japanese  Mission, 
which  recently  visited  the  United  States,  was  the  guest  of  honor  at  the  ban- 
quet given  this  evening,  which  was  attended  by  two  hundred  Japanese  and 
Americans.  Baron  Eiichi  Shibusawa,  President  of  the  American- Japanese 
Association,  and  Chairman  of  the  Tokio  Bankers’  Association,  presided.  The 
guests  at  the  function  were  the  members  of  the  Special  Mission  which  visited 
the  United  States,  Roland  S.  Morris,  the  American  Ambassador,  and  the 
staff  of  the  American  Embassy. 

The  banquet  was  the  most  representative  gathering  in  recent  years,  and 
gave  to  Viscount  Ishii  his  first  opp>ortunity  to  speak  to  the  Japanese  public 
since  his  arrival  from  the  United  States.  The  speech  has  been  circulated 
broadcast  and  has  been  made  a feature  by  newspapers  throughout  the 
country. 

Responding  to  the  toast  of  the  evening.  Viscount  Ishii  said : 


Since  last  I met  you  I have  been  given  extraordinary  opportunities 
to  address  great  audiences.  There  are  many  words  and  sentiments  which 
I would  wish  to  add  now,  but  in  this  presence,  indeed  before  the  whole 
world,  I declare  that  I would  not  modify  or  withdraw  anything  I said 
in  the  course  of  our  visit  to  America.  We  had  a wonderful  trip  and  a 
wonderful  experience.  We  sailed  upon  a voyage  of  discovery  in  search 
of  treasure  and  found  it. 


114 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


It  affords  me  the  keenest  gratification  to  tell  you  that  we  bring 
back  to  all  the  people  of  Japan  from  all  the  people  of  America  a mes- 
sage charged  with  an  earnest  spirit  of  good  will  and  a sincere  desire  for 
a good  understanding  and  friendship.  The  answer  to  your  message  of 
good  will  was  delivered  to  us  by  the  whole  people  of  America,  by  men 
whose  names  stand  highest  in  the  roll  of  American  honor.  Let  there  be 
no  doubt  among  you  as  to  the  sincerity  of  the  message.  There  was  no 
false  note  in  it ; there  was  no  discordant  tone  in  the  voices  welcoming 
us.  We  are  well  aware  that  our  personalities  played  no  part  in  the 
treatment  we  received  from  the  President  and  people  of  the  United 
States,  which  was  intended  for  our  Emperor  and  our  people. 

Now  returning  from  our  voyage  of  discovery,  we  bring  to  our 
gracious  sovereign  and  the  people  of  our  nation  the  assurance  that  the 
true  gold  of  America  lies  at  the  very  heart  of  its  people.  We  are  very 
earnest  in  our  desire  to  convince  the  whole  people  of  this  country  of 
the  value  and  real  meaning  of  the  reception  of  this  Mission  at  the 
hands  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  Here  let  me  refer  to  the 
notes  exchanged  between  Japan  and  America.  For  the  consummation 
of  this  international  agreement  I stand  personally  a debtor  to  President 
Wilson  and  Secretary  of  State  Lansing  for  unusual  courtesies  and 
consideration.  As  the  result  of  the  frank  exchange  of  opinion  we  ar- 
rived at  an  agreement,  which  must  help  America,  China  and  Japan. 

The  mutual  declarations  with  regard  to  China  ought  not  to  be  the 
subject  of  suspicion  at  any  time.  Neither  should  they  under  any  con- 
sideration give  offense,  because  where  no  offense  is  intended,  no  offense 
can  be  given. 

There  is  no  suggestion  of  interference  in  China  in  the  policies  of 
the  government  in  the  recognition  of  the  fact  that  Japan  stands  in  special 
relation  with  or  has  special  interest  in  China. 

Chinese  friends  tell  us  that  China  and  Japan  are  like  the  two  wings 
of  a bird,  the  two  wheels  of  a carriage,  or  as  the  lips  to  the  teeth.  It 
is  difficult  for  me  to  understand,  therefore,  why  a highly  intelligent 
people  should  now  take  umbrage  because  of  this  putting  into  writing 
of  the  special  relgitions  between  Japan  and  China  or  of  the  special 
interests  of  Japan  in  China.  I confidently  believe  that  the  time  will 
come  soon  when  our  Chinese  friends,  in  their  quick  discernment  of  the 
world  situation,  will  be  satisfied  to  be  partners  in  the  new  agreement, 
which  so  materially  contributes  to  strengthening  the  good  relations,  not 
only  between  America  and  Japan,  but  between  Japan,  America  and 
China. 

With  such  a renewed  conception  of  international  amity  and  solidar- 
ity, guaranteeing  unbroken  tranquillity  in  eastern  Asia,  the  undivided 
energies  of  Japan  and  China  should  henceforth  be  directed  toward 
strengthening  the  forces  now  struggling  in  the  common  cause,  which 
China  has  espoused,  as  well  as  Japan. 

I am  now  happy  to  be  able  to  state  before,  you  that  there  are  now 
no  longer  questions  with  regard  to  China  between  Japan  and  the  United 
States.  In  a speech  before  a magnificent  assemblage  at  a dinner  in  the 


VISCOUNT  ISHIl'S  TRIBUTE  TO  AMERICA 


115 


city  of  New  York,  I said  that  for  many  years  the  common  foe  of  Japan 
and  America  has  been  the  worst  enemy  of  China.  German  influence  is 
responsible  for  most  of  the  unfortunate  misunderstandings  and  wide- 
spread misinformation  impairing  the  relations  between  the  two  coun- 
tries. If  the  Chinese  government  or  people  should  now  be  misled  by 
an  ill  advised  interpretation  of  this  new  instrument  it  would  be  a matter 
of  sincere  regret  to  me,  as,  I am  sure,  it  would  be  to  the  eminently  fair, 
broad-minded  and  splendid  statesman  who  stands  at  the  head  of  the 
diplomatic  affairs  of  the  United  States. 

Describing  matters  of  chief  importance  connected  with  the  visit  of  the 
Mission,  \’iscount  Ishii  paid  a fine  tribute  to  “the  loyalty,  patriotism,  unity 
and  magnificent  self-sacrifice  of  the  whole  people  of  the  United  States  look- 
ing to  effective  participation  in  the  war.”  He  said  that  the  countr}^  was  united 
in  support  of  the  President,  adding: 

The  resources  are  so  vast  and  the  spirit  so  pronounced  that  none 
can  doubt  the  result  when  once  this  tremendously  virile  force  gets  into 
action.  No  words  of  mine  can  describe  the  overwhelming  sense  of. 
power,  the  latent,  determined,  grim  and  unrelenting  purpose  where  the 
^ seen  and  unseen  forces  of  America  are  gathering  for  the  final  blow, 

which  must  win  this  war.  We  are  proud  indeed  to  be  the  comrades  and 
partners  of  such  allies.  We  are  proud  to  have  a share  and  a place  among 
the  armies  moving  forward  to  the  set  objective. 

The  Emperor’s  Message  of  Thanks  to  President  Wilson 

Viscount  Ishii  and  his  associates  were  received  in  audience  by  His  Imperial 
IMajesty  the  Emperor  on  the  morning  of  November  28.  On  their  departure  from 
the  palace.  His  Majesty  caused  the  following  telegram  to  be  sent  to  President 
Wilson : 


I have  just  been  extremely  pleased  to  hear  from  Viscount  Ishii  a per- 
sonal account  of  the  hearty  welcome  accorded  my  special  mission  to  the 
United  States,  and  once  more  tender  to  Your  Excellency,  and  through  Your 
Excellency  to  the  American  people,  my  profound  thanks  for  and  my  deep 
appreciation  of  that  warm  display  of  sincere  international  friendship  which 
is  of  all  good  augury  for  the  future  of  the  two  nations  and  which  wdl  be 
held  in  grateful  memory  in  my  country. 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX  A 


THE  ROOT-TAKAHIRA  EXCHANGE  OF  NOTES,  1908 


Note  from  the  Japanese  Ambassador  to  the  Secretary  of  State 

Japanese  Embassy, 

‘ Washington,  Nov.  jo,  igo8. 

Sir  : 

The  exchange  of  views  between  us,  which  has  taken  place  at  the  several 
interviews  which  I have  recently  had  the  honor  of  holding  with  you,  has 
shown  that  Japan  and  the  United  States,  holding  important  outlying  insular 
possessions  in  the  region  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  the  governments  of  the  two 
countries  are  animated  by  a common  aim,  policy  and  intention  in  that  region. 

Believing  that  a frank  avowal  of  that  aim,  policy  and  intention  would 
not  only  tend  to  strengthen  the  relations  of  friendship  and  good  neighborhood 
which  have  immemorially  existed  between  Japan  and  the  United  States,  but 
would  materially  contribute  to  the  preservation  of  the  general  peace,  the  Im- 
perial Government  have  authorized  me  to  present  to  you  an  outline  of  their 
understanding  of  that  common  aim,  policy  and  intention : 

1.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  two  governments  to  encourage  the  free  and 
peaceful  development  of  their  commerce  on  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

2.  The  policy  of  both  governments,  uninfluenced  by  any  aggressive  ten- 
dencies, is  directed  to  the  maintenance  of  the  existing  status  quo  in  the  region 
above  mentioned  and  to  the  defense  of  the  principle  of  equal  opportunity  for 
commerce  and  industry  in  China. 

3.  They  are  accordingly  firmly  resolved  reciprocally  to  respect  the  ter- 
ritorial possessions  belonging  to  each  other  in  said  region. 

4.  They  are  also  determined  to  preserve  the  common  interests  of  all 
powers  in  China  by  supporting  by  all  pacific  means  at  their  disposal  the  in- 
dependence and  integrity  of  China  and  the  principles  of  equal  opportunity  for 
commerce  and  industry  of  all  nations  in  that  Empire. 

5.  Should  any  event  occur  threatening  the  status  quo  as  above  described 
or  the  principle  of  equal  opportunity,  as  above  defined,  it  remains  for  the  two 
governments  to  communicate  with  each  other,  in  order  to  arrive  at  an  under- 
standing as  to  what  measures  they  may  consider  it  useful  to  take. 

If  the  foregoing  outline  accords  with  the  view  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  I shall  be  gratified  to  receive  your  confirmation. 

I take,  etc. 


K.  Tak.\hira. 


120 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


Note  from  the  Secretary  of  State  to  the  Japanese  Ambassador 

Department  of  State, 

Washinqton,  Nov.  ?o,  igo8. 

Excellency  : 

I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  note  today,  setting 
forth  the  result  of  the  exchange  of  views  between  us  in  our  recent  interviews, 
defining  the  understanding  of  the  two  governments  in  regard  to  their  policy 
in  the  region  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

It  is  a pleasure  to  inform  you  that  this  expression  of  mutual  under- 
standing is  welcome  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  as  appropriate 
to  the  happy  relation  of  the  two  countries  and  the  occasion  for  a concise, 
mutual  affirmation  of  that  accordant  policy  respecting  the  Far  East  which  the 
two  governments  have  so  frequently  declared  in  the  past. 

I am  happy  to  be  able  to  confirm  to  Your  Excellency,  on  behalf  of  the 
United  States,  the  declaration  of  the  two  governments  embodied  in  the  fol- 
lowing words: 

(Here  follows  a declaration  identical  to  that  given  by  Baron  Takahira  over 
the  signature  of  Mr.  Elihu  Root.) 


APPENDIX  B 


THE  LANSING-ISHII  EXCHANGE  OF  NOTES,  1917 


As  a culmination  of  the  labors  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Mission  to  the 
United  States,  under  the  leadership  of  Viscount  Ishii,  in  its  conversations  with 
the  American  Department  of  State  under  Secretary  of  State  Robert  Lansing,  an 
agreement  was  reached  on  November  2,  1917.  This  important  state  paper  setting 
forth  this  agreement  has  been  hailed  in  Japan  and  the  United  States  alike  as  of 
happiest  augury  for  the  peace  of  the  world,  as  defining  permanently  the  relations 
of  Japan  and  the  United  States  in  regard  to  China,  and  as  assuring  definitely  the 
status  of  China  before  the  nations.  The  Lansing-Ishii  agreement  is  the  crown 
of  the  high  achievements  of  the  Imperial  Mission.  It  will  take  its  place  in  living 
history  beside  the  celebrated  Root-Takahira  agreement,  and  will  Ibng  share  renown 
with  the  John  Hay  correspondence  originally  proclaiming  the  “open  door”  in 
China. 

The  agreement  follows,  and  with  it  are  included  the  illuminating  comments 
of  Secretary  of  State  Lansing  and  Viscount  Ishii. 

Following  is  the  State  Department’s  announcement ; 

On  Fridav,  November  2.  1917.  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Viscount  Ishii, 
the  special  Japanese  Ambassador,  exchanged  at  the  Department  of  State  the 
following  notes  dealing  with  the  policy  of  the  United  States  and  Japan  in  regard 
to  China : 

Note  from  the  Secretary  of  State  to  the  Japanese  Ambassador 

Department  of  State, 
Washington,  Nov.  2,  1917. 

Excellency : 

I have  the  honor  to  communicate  herein  my  understanding  of  the  agree- 
ment reached  by  us  in  our  recent  conversations  touching  the  questions  of 
mutual  interest  to  our  governments  relating  to  the  republic  of  China. 

In  order  to  silence  mischievous  reports  that  have  from  time  to  time 
been  circulated  it  is  believed  by  us  that  a public  announcement  once  more 
of  the  desires  and  intentions  shared  by  our  two  governments  with  regard 
to  China  is  advisable. 

The  governments  of  the  United  States  and  Japan  recognize  that  ter- 
ritorial propinquity  creates  special  relations  between  countries,  and,  conse- 
quently, the  government  of  the  United  States  recognizes  that  Japan  has 
special  interests  in  China,  particularly  in  the  part  to  which  her  possessions 
are  contiguous. 


122 


TIIK  IMr’KUIAL  jAI’ANESE  MISSION 


The  territorial  sovereignty  of  China,  nevertheless,  remains  unimpaired, 
and  the  government  of  the  United  States  has  every  confidence  in  the  re- 
peated assurances  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  government  that  while  geogra- 
phical position  gives  japan  such  special  interests  they  have  no  desire  to  dis- 
criminate against  the  trade  of  other  nations  or  to  disregard  the  commercial 
rights  heretofore  granted  by  China  in  treaties  with  other  powers. 

The  governments  of  the  United  States  and  Japan  deny  that  they  have 
any  purpose  to  infringe  in  any  way  the  independence  or  territorial  integrity 
of  China,  and  they  declare,  furthermore,  that  they  always  adhere  to  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  so-called  “open  door”  or  equal  opportunity  for  commerce  and 
industry  in  China. 

Moreover,  they  mutually  declare  that  they  are  opposed  to  the  acquisi- 
tion by  any  government  of  any  sjiecial  rights  or  privileges  that  would  affect 
the  independence  or  territorial  integrity  of  China  or  that  would  deny  to  the 
subjects  or  citizens  of  any  country  the  full  enjoyment  of  equal  opportunity 
in  the  commerce  and  industry  of  China. 

1 shall  be  glad  to  have  Your  Excellency  confirm  this  understanding  of 
the  agreement  reached  by  us. 

Accept,  Excellency,  the  renewed  assurance  of  my  highest  consideration. 

(Signed)  Robert  Lansing. 

His  Excellency,  Viscount  Kikujiro  Ishii, 

Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary 
of  Japan,  on  Special  Mission. 

Note  from  the  Japanese  Ambassador  to  the  Secretary  of  State 


The  Special  Mission  of  Japan, 

Washington,  Nov.  2,  igij. 


Sir: 

1 have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  note  today,  com- 
municating to  me  your  understanding  of  the  agreement  reached  by  us  in 
our  recent  conversations  touching  the  questions  of  mutual  interests  to  our 
governments  relating  to  the  rei)ublic  of  China. 

1 am  happy  to  be  able  to  confirm  to  you.  under  authorization  of  my 
government,  the  understanding  in  question  set  forth  in  the  following  terms: 
[Here  the  special  Ambassador  repeats  the  language  of  the  agreement 
as  given  in  Secretary  T^ansing’s  note]. 

(Signed)  K.  Ishii, 

Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary 

of  Japan  on  Special  Mission. 

Honorable  Robert  Lansing. 

Secretary  of  State. 


Secretary  of  State  Lansing’s  Statement. 

In  his  statement  accompanying  the  announcement  Secretary  Lansing  said: 

Viscount  Ishii  and  the  other  Japanese  Commissioners  who  are  now  on 
their  wav  back  to  their  countrv  have  performed  a service  to  the  United 
States  as  well  as  to  Japan  which  is  of  the  highest  value. 


THE  I.ANSING-ISHIl  EXCHANGE  OF  NOTES,  1917 


123 


There  had  unquestionably  been  growing  up  between  the  peoples  of  the 
two  countries  a feeling  of  suspicion  as  to  the  motives  inducing  the  activities 
of  the  other  in  the  Far  East — a feeling  which,  if  unchecked,  promised 
to  develop  a serious  situation.  Rumors  and  reports  of  improper  intentions 
were  increasing  and  were  more  and  more  believed.  Legitimate  commercial 
and  industrial  enterprises  without  ulterior  motive  were  presumed  to  have 
political  significance,  with  the  result  that  opposition  to  those  enterprises  was 
aroused  in  the  other  country. 

The  attitude  of  constraint  and  doubt  thus  created  was  fostered  and  en- 
couraged by  the  campaign  of  falsehood,  which  for  a long  time  had  been 
adroitly  and  secretly  carried  on  by  Germans,  whose  government  as  a part 
of  its  foreign  policy  desired  especially  to  so  alienate  this  country  and  Japan, 
that  it  would  be  at  the  chosen  time  no  difficult  task  to  cause  a rupture  of  their 
good  relations.  Unfortunately  there  were  people  in  both  countries,  many  of 
whom  were  entirely  hone.st  in  their  beliefs,  who  accepted  every  false  rumor 
as  true,  and  aided  the  German  propaganda  by  declaring  that  their  own  govern- 
ment should  prepare  for  the  conflict,  w'hich  they  asserted  was  inevitable, 
that  the  interests  of  the  two  nations  in  the  Far  East  were  hostile,  and  that 
every  activity  of  the  other  country  in  the  Pacific  had  a sinister  purpose. 

Fortunately  this  distrust  was  not  so  general  in  either  the  United  States 
or  Japan  as  to  affect  the  friendly  relations  of  the  two  governments,  but 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  feeling  of  suspicion  was  increasing  and  the  untrue 
reports  were  receiving  more  and  more  credence  in  spite  of  the  earnest 
efforts  which  were  made  on  both  sides  of  the  Pacific  to  counteract  a move- 
ment which  would  jeopardize  the  ancient  friendship  of  the  two  nations. 

The  visit  of  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  colleagues  has  accomplished  a great 
change  of  opinion  in  this  country.  By  frankly  denouncing  the  evil  influences 
which  have  been  at  work,  by  openly  proclaiming  that  the  policy  of  Japan  is 
not  one  of  aggression,  and  by  declaring  that  there  is  no  intention  to  take 
advantage,  commercially  or  industrially,  of  the  special  relations  to  China 
created  by  geographical  position,  the  representatives  of  Japan  have  cleared 
the  diplomatic  atmosphere  of  the  suspicions  which  had  been  so  carefullv 
spread  by  our  enemies  and  by  misguided  or  overzealous  people  in  both 
countries.  In  a few  days  the  propaganda  of  years  has  been  undone,  and 
both  nations  are  now  able  to  see  how  near  they  came  to  being  led  into  the 
trap  which  had  been  skilfully  set  for  them. 

Throughout  the  conferences  which  have  taken  place  Viscount  Ishii  has 
shown  a sincerity  and  candor  which  dispelled  every  doubt  as  to  his  purpose 
and  brought  the  two  governments  into  an  attitude  of  confidence  toward 
each  other  which  made  it  possible  to  discuss  every  question  with  frankness 
and  cordiality.  Approaching  the  subjects  in  such  a spirit  and  with  the 
mutual  desire  to  remove  every  possible  cause  of  controversv  the  negotia- 
tions were  marked  by  a sincerity  and  good  will  which  from  the  first  insured 
their  success. 

The  principal  result  of  the  negotiations  was  the  mutual  understanding 
which  was  reached  as  to  the  principles  governing  the  policies  of  the  two 
governments  in  relation  to  China.  This  understanding  is  formally  set  forth 
in  the  notes  exchanged,  and  now  made  public.  The  statements  in  the  notes 


124 


THE  IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  MISSION 


require  no  explanation.  They  not  only  contain  a reaffirmation  of  the  opeil 
door  policy,  but  introduce  a principle  of  non-interference  with  the  sover- 
eignty and  territorial  integrity  of  China,  which,  generally  applied,  is  essen- 
tial to  perpetual  international  peace,  as  clearly  declared  by  President  Wilson, 
and  which  is  the  very  foundation  also  of  Pan  Americanism  as  interpreted 
by  this  government. 

The  removal  of  doubts  and  suspicions  and  the  mutual  declaration  of  the 
new  doctrine  as  to  the  Far  East  would  be  enough  to  make  the  visit  of  the 
Japanese  Commission  to  the  United  States  hi.storic  and  memorable,  but  it 
accomplished  a further  purpose,  which  is  of  special  interest  to  the  world  at 
this  time,  in  expressing  Japan’s  earnest  desire  to  cooperate  with  this  country 
in  waging  war  against  the  German  government.  The  discussions,  which 
covered  the  military,  naval  and  economic  activities  to  be  employed  with  due 
regard  to  relative  resources  and  ability,  showed  the  same  spirit  of  sincerity 
and  candor  which  characterized  the  negotiations  resulting  in  the  exchange 
of  notes. 

At  the  pre.sent  time  it  is  inexpedient  to  make  public  the  details  of  these 
conversations,  but  it  may  be  said  that  this  government  has  been  gratified  by 
the  assertions  of  Viscount  Ishii  and  his  colleagues  that  their  government 
desired  to  do  their  part  in  the  suppression  of  Prussian  militarism  and  were 
eager  to  cooperate  in  every  practical  way  to  that  end.  It  might  be  added, 
however,  that  complete  and  satisfactory  understandings  upon  the  matter  of 
naval  cooperation  in  the  Pacific  for  the  purpose  of  attaining  the  common 
object  against  Germany  and  her  allies  have  been  reached  between  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  Imperial  Japanese  navy  who  is  attached  to  the  Special 
Mission  of  Japan  and  the  representative  of  the  United  States  navy. 

It  is  only  just  to  say  that  success  which  has  attended  the  intercourse 
of  the  Japanese  Commission  with  American  officials  and  with  private  per- 
sons as  well  is  due  in  large  measure  to  the  personality  of  Viscount  Ishii,  the 
head  of  the  Mission.  The  natural  reserve  and  hesitation  which  are  not 
unusual  in  negotiations  of  a delicate  nature  disappeared  under  the  influence 
of  his  open  friendliness,  while  his  franl^ness  won  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  all.  It  is  doubtful  if  a representative  of  a different  temper  could 
in  so  short  a time  have  done  as  much  as  Viscount  Ishii  to  place  on  a better 
and  firmer  basis  the  relations  between  the  United  States  and  Japan.  Through 
him  the  American  people  have  gained  a new  and  higher  conception  of  the 
reality  of  Japan’s  friendship  for  the  United  States,  which  will  be  mutually 
beneficial  in  the  future. 

Viscount  Ishii  will  be  remembered  in  this  country  as  a statesman  of 
high  attainments,  as  a diplomat  with  a true  vision  of  international  affairs 
and  as  a genuine  and  outspoken  friend  of  America. 

Viscount  Ishii’s  Statement 

The  following  statement  by  Viscount  Ishii,  head  of  the  Japanese  Special 
Mission,  was  given  out  by  the  Japanese  Embassy: 


THE  LANSING-ISHII  EXCHANGE  OF  NOTES,  1917  125 

My  final  departure  from  Washington  affords  a fit  occasion  for  me  to 
express  once  more  to  the  American  people  my  deep  sense  of  gratitude  for 
the  cordial  reception  and  hospitality  accorded  to  the  Special  Mission  of 
Japan.  The  spontaneous  and  enthusiastic  manifestations  of  friendship  and 
good  will  toward  us  on  all  hands  have  profoundly  impressed  not  only  the 
members  of  the  Mission,  but  the  whole  Japanese  people.  The  kindly  feeling 
and  fraternal  spirit  always  existing  between  the  two  nations  have  never  been 
more  emphatically  testified  to. 

Believing,  as  I do,  in  frank  talking,  I have  tried  as  best  I could  in  my 
public  utterances  in  this  country  to  tell  the  truth  and  the  facts  about  my 
country,  the  aspirations  and  motives  which  spur  my  nation.  For  to  my 
mind  it  is  misrepresentation  and  the  lack  of  information  that  allow  discor- 
dance and  distrust  to  creep  in  in  the  relationship  between  nations.  I am 
happy  to  think  that  at  a time  when  the  true  unity  and  cooperation  between 
the  Allied  nations  are  dire  necessities  it  has  been  given  me  to  contribute  in 
my  small  way  to  a better  understanding  and  appreciation  among  the  Ameri- 
cans with  regard  to  Japan. 

The  new  understanding  in  regard  to  the  line  of  policy  to  be  followed  by 
Japan  and  America  respecting  the  republic  of  China  augurs  well  for  the 
undisturbed  maintenance  of  the  harmonious  accord  and  good  neighborliness 
between  our  two  countries.  It  certainly  will  do  away  with  all  doubts  that 
have  now  and  then  shadowed  the  Japanese-American  relationship.  It  can 
not  fail  to  defeat  for  all  time  the  pernicious  efforts  of  German  agents,  to 
whom  every  new  situation  developing  in  China  always  furnished  so  fruitful 
a field  for  black  machinations.  For  the  rest,  this  new  understanding  of  ours 
substantiates  the  solidity  of  comradeship,  which  is  daily  gaining  strength 
among  the  honorable  and  worthy  nations  of  the  civilized  world. 

It  is  a great  pleasure  for  me  to  add  that  this  declaration  has  been  reached 
as  an  outcome  of  free  exchange  of  frank  views  between  the  two  govern- 
ments. I can  not  pay  too  high  a tribute  to  the  sincerity  and  farsightedness 
of  Secretary  Lansing,  with  whom  it  was  my  privilege  to  associate  in  so 
pleasurable  a way.  It  is  my  firm  belief  that  so  long  as  the  two  governments 
maintain  a perfectly  appreciative  attitude  toward  each  other,  so  long  as  there 
is  no  lack  of  statesmanship  to  guide  public  opinion,  the  reign  of  peace  and 
tranquillity  in  our  part  of  the  world  will  remain  unchallenged. 


M • 


INDEX  TO  SPEAKERS 


Anderson,  George  \Y 

Clark,  Speaker  Champ  

Clews,  Henry  

Coolidge,  Lt.  Gov.  Calvin  

Curley,  Mayor  James  M 

Daniels,  Secretary  Josephus  . . . . 

Dewey,  John  

Elder,  Samuel  J 

Gary,  Judge  Elbert  H 

Ishii,  Viscount  Kikujiro: 

Boston  

Honolulu  

Mount  Vernon  

Newport  

New  York 

Philadelphia  

San  Francisco  

Tokio  

Washington  

Me  Nab,  Gavin  

Mitchel,  Mayor  John  Purroy  . . . 
Morris,  Ambassador  Roland  S. 
Perry,  Bishop  James  De  Wolf . . 

Outerbridge,  E.  H 

Owen,  Senator  Robert  L 

Pinkham,  Gov.  Lucius  Eugene  . 

Prendergast,  William  A 

Root,  Elihu  

Russell,  Lindsay  

Sato,  Ambassador  Aimaro  . . . . 

Saulsbury,  Senator  Willard 

Seitz,  Don  C 

Smith,  Mayor  Thomas  B 

Stephens,  Gov.  William  D 

Taft,  William  Howard  

Villard,  Oswald  Garrison  

WTitman,  Gov.  Charles  S 

Wilson,  President  Woodrow  . . . 


PAGE 


.SI 

27 

44 

51 

48.  .SO 

19 

lOS 

51 

63,  86 

46,  49,  51,  52 
4,  112 


20 

44 

67,  72,  78,  80,  90,  97.  103 

32,  34,  38 

6,  7,  10,  11,  112 

113 

. . . .15,  16,  21,  24,  28,  55 

9,  12 

. . . .62,  73,  76,  83,  86,  89 

31,  34,  37 

42 

70,  73 

77 

3 

104 

94 

78 


3b,  51,  109 

23 

107 

33 

9 

87 

99 

77,  79 

16 


ft  11' 


i> 


I 


/ 


I 


r 

l 


